WARBURTON POISED FOR FOREST JOB

MARK WARBURTON is being lined up for a return to football with Nottingham Forest. The troubled English Championship club have named former Rangers recruitment chief Frank McParland as their director of football, with Warburton now expected to follow him to the City Ground this summer. The former Ibrox boss left the club in bizarre circumstances last month when Rangers claimed that he, his assistant David Weir and McParland had tendered their resignations before terminating their contracts. The trio deny quitting and have called in the League Managers’ Association to help them fight a legal battle with Rangers. Warburton was rumoured to have held talks with Forest before his departure but denied any link with the Championship strugglers. However, Forest owner Fawaz Al-Hasawi is expected to make

a move for the 54-year-old if the club can escape relegation. Meanwhile, former Ibrox midfielder Derek Ferguson has warned Rangers they will be taking a huge gamble if they hire Portuguese coach Pedro Caixinha. Currently boss of Qatari club Al-Gharafa, he is thought to be willing to take a huge pay cut to land his first job in British football, although the Qatari outfit insist they know nothing of Rangers’ interest. Spokesman Taha Al Muhaza said: ‘After the match against Al-Sailiya, Pedro was asked about Rangers. He said the story was not correct, that he was staying with Al-Gharafa. ‘He has not spoken to us about any interest from Scotland.’ Rangers still hope that Southampton’s Ross Wilson will join them as director of football, despite the Scot seeking more time to decide, but Ferguson fears the acquisition of a coach like Caixinha, with no experience of the Scottish game, risks a repeat of the Paul Le Guen fiasco. ‘At the time, everybody was excited because Le Guen was a top-class coach,’ he said. ‘He tried to change the culture of the club. ‘Scottish football might not be the best, but we have aggression and passion. That’s part of our identity. Take that away and we lose a lot. ‘That’s maybe why the Portuguese coach is a gamble. They should go for a British-based manager. If it was my decision, it would be someone with Rangers running through their veins.’ Ex-Birmingham boss Gary Rowett and Alex McLeish were also interviewed but Caixinha has emerged as the frontrunner and, following Warburton’s failure, that worries BBC pundit Ferguson. ‘Did Mark ever get what Rangers was or how much it meant to the fans?,’ he asked. ‘Like one or two players who have come from England to Scotland, I think he underestimated our game. ‘Celtic could take a risk with Ronny Deila because Rangers weren’t there. Rangers don’t have that freedom because Celtic are miles apart and the next manager will not have the same cash to spend. That’s why they have to get the right appointment. Someone who is shrewd, has good contacts and can find a gem or two.’ Caixinha won three trophies in two years as coach of Mexican club Santos Laguna. He has had ten jobs in 12 years and Ferguson believes a long-term appointment is important. ‘Rangers need someone who will be there for four or five years. The director of football structure is not my cup of tea either.’