McInnes is ‘perfect’ for Ibrox, says McCulloch
FORMER Rangers captain Lee McCulloch insists Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes is the ‘perfect fit’ for the Ibrox club. Rangers are yet to appoint Pedro Caixinha’s successor after the Portuguese was sacked following a board meeting on October 26. McInnes is the favourite to replace Caixinha despite Rangers caretaker boss Graeme Murty guiding the club to two wins from two during his time in charge. ‘There’s a few in for it. The likes of Steve McClaren and Alan Pardew have been mentioned and, obviously, the main contender is McInnes. He would be my choice,’ said McCulloch. ‘He knows the club, he’s played for the club and he knows the standards of the club. ‘If you look at where he’s taken Aberdeen from, to where they are now and the way he has recruited over that time, in my opinion he is the perfect fit. ‘Knowing the club is a massive thing. That’s why Derek is the perfect fit. ‘I know from my own experience as a player how it feels to come up to a club like Rangers from the Premier League. ‘The pressure and the demands at Rangers were like no other club I had seen. I can’t talk for Manchester United or Chelsea or clubs like that, but the demands up here were massive. ‘Ally McCoist used to say there is a graveyard full of international players outside of Ibrox, full of guys who couldn’t wear the jersey. That was a perfect way of putting it. ‘That’s part of the recruitment process and Derek knows it. It’s a very important thing.’ Reflecting on whether the ‘graveyard’ also refers to managers, the 39-year-old said: ‘It probably does because of the demands which come with having to get results. ‘What style do you want to play to get those results? Is it all about results or is it about entertaining the fans, as well? It’s a hard, hard job. ‘I don’t think they can take a risk on the new manager. ‘I don’t think there was anything up with trying to think outside of the box and trying to go down a different path at that time (with Caixinha). ‘Fair play to the board for thinking outside of the box. But it didn’t work. ‘So now the important thing is to get someone in who is tried and tested and who knows the club inside out. For me — and I’m not his agent — Derek McInnes is the perfect candidate.’ For the two games that Murty has been at the helm, he has selected five Scottish players, while Caixinha chose just two for their Betfred Cup semi-final defeat to Motherwell. McCulloch does not see it as a ‘coincidence’ that Rangers have been doing better with more Scots in the side. ‘If you look at when Walter Smith took over in 2007, his main thing was to bring in Scottish players because, I think his words were: “They knew what it was all about”,’ said McCulloch. ‘It’s hard for players from overseas to come in and hit the ground running because of the demands and the pressure. ‘I don’t think a lot of them are used to it and I think the Scottish guys grasp it quicker.’ The biggest change that Murty has made has been reinstating Kenny Miller to the starting line-up and McCulloch insists that decision was vital. ‘It’s been great to see Kenny back. I think he has been hung out to dry a little by certain people at the club,’ he said. ‘I played with Kenny both with Rangers and Scotland. He’s a top professional and a winner. ‘Kenny’s got an opinion and some people don’t like that — but that’s the type of personality you need in a Rangers dressing room. ‘Barry Ferguson was the perfect example. If Barry was playing in that team, how long do you think Caixinha would have lasted? ‘It’s a mentality thing.’
Lee McCulloch was speaking at a William Hill media event. William Hill is a proud sponsor of the Scotland national team.