Rangers’ top managerial target Kevin Muscat could potentially send Neil McCann to Ibrox this weekend to temporarily fill his role following a secret agreement that was initially hashed out between the two back in 2023. Muscat had plans to bring on board his former Ibrox team-mate as his right-hand man back in 2023 when he first interviewed for the job but ultimately lost out to Philippe Clement.
Before presenting himself to figures like Graeme Souness during that process, Muscat had already outlined a potential backroom staff with McCann pre-selected for the assistant manager position. This is why McCann could be swiftly ushered back into the dugout for Saturday’s league match against Dundee United – if Muscat can be convinced to take up the vacant role as Russell Martin’s successor before then.
The 52-year-old has been engaged in formal discussions with club owner Andrew Cavenagh and his top executives over the past 24 hours.
It’s believed they turned to him as a possible choice as concerns mount in the boardroom that previous front runner Danny Rohl lacks the necessary experience and the backing of an increasingly rebellious fan base.
Former Sheffield Wednesday boss Rohl still has some influential supporters in Cavenagh’s camp after a well-received initial interview, but the 36-year-old has been left hanging for days now, waiting to find out if he’s been successful.
Muscat has emerged as a strong contender for the position, despite currently leading Shanghai Port towards a potential second consecutive Chinese Super League title.
The team is two points ahead with just four games left in the domestic Asian season, and Muscat would be hesitant to abandon his team before the championship is decided.
If the competition goes down to the wire and the final round of fixtures, Muscat may have to postpone any move until after the last day on November 22. With one year remaining on his current contract in the Far East, Rangers would also need to pay a substantial compensation fee.
This won’t ease the tension among their own fans who have been simmering since Martin was forced out of the job and were on the brink of going nuclear when Cavenagh and vice chairman Paraag Marathe failed in a high-profile attempt to replace him with Steven Gerrard.
However, McCann is thought to have been suggested as a temporary solution and someone who could return to the home dugout just months after leaving Ibrox as part of Barry Ferguson’s interim coaching staff.
If Muscat is the man Rangers want – and if Cavenagh can persuade him to join a structure led by embattled sporting director Kevin Thelwell – then McCann could make himself available to manage the team for Saturday’s match against Dundee United.
Yesterday, the under-19s coach Stevie Smith took charge of training at the club’s Auchenhowie HQ.
However, with the home support’s patience already stretched thin, the club hierarchy is keen to bring in more experienced personnel ahead of the domestic campaign’s resumption.
Although not ideal, McCann could be a suitable candidate, having previously managed Dundee and Inverness Caley Thistle.
Having worked under Ferguson for the final three months of last season, he is also familiar with several key players who survived Thelwell’s major summer overhaul – including Jack Butland, John Souttar, James Tavernier and Nico Raskin.
There is no indication that Ferguson has been asked to rejoin the set-up, and it’s thought that the former Rangers captain would be highly unlikely to put himself back in the spotlight on such a temporary basis.