Things are looking more and more desperate by the day for Rangers. Having endured a dismal start to the season – both domestically and in Europe – the Scottish giants eventually pulled the plug on Russell Martin’s tenure earlier this month.
In the eyes of some Gers fans, it was too little too late, with some having criticised the appointment earlier this summer. However, things have gone from bad to worse for Rangers, as results are continuing to stall, while their search for Martin’s replacement has hit a dead end. Steven Gerrard reportedly turned down the chance to return as manager, while a move to bring Kevin Muscat in collapsed at the 11th hour. As that rumbles on in the background, Express Sport have taken a look at four alternatives Rangers could turn to instead.
Sean Dyche
Beggars can’t be choosers, ey? That’s unfortunately where Rangers find themselves now, with the 55-time champions needing to choose substance over style. It’s hard to imagine Sean Dyche turning his nose up at the chance to manage a club with Rangers’ stature, having been out of work since leaving Everton earlier this year. Rangers will have to move fast though, given Nottingham Forest are said to be interested in hiring the ex-Burnley coach.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer
Eyebrows were raised when Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was sacked by Besiktas after failing to qualify for the Conference League main draw. The Norwegian had been making steady progress in the Turkish Super Lig, having finished fourth in the league last season. It means he’s once again on the
Gary O’Neil
The third ex-Premier League coach to make this list, with Gary O’Neil having been out of work for the best part of a year now. The Englishman was sacked by Wolves in December 2024, and hasn’t been tempted by any offers so far. While his stint with Wolves didn’t exactly go to plan, O’Neil was responsible for steadying the ship at Bournemouth, with some claiming the decision to replace him with Andoni Iraola as harsh at the time.
Steven Smith
Finally, what about the man currently in interim charge at the moment? Let’s face it, Rangers are a mess in several departments across the club. Parachuting in another manager to rescue things in the here and now might be too short-sighted, given the need for a drastic rebuild. It isn’t that Steven Smith is the messiah (recent results alone would suggest that), but it could be an appointment that sees Rangers through to the end of the season, with the board able to put their mind together and come up with a suitable long-term plan in the meantime.