Rangers legend Ally McCoist has shared his thoughts on the club’s managerial future, with the Ibrox hot seat currently occupied by ex-captain Barry Ferguson on an interim basis following the dismissal of Philippe Clement in late February.
McCoist, a well-respected figure from his time at Rangers, acknowledged the impending ownership change at the club, with a San Francisco 49ers-led consortium poised to take charge in the coming months.
He expects the new leadership to want to stamp their authority on the club with their own choice of manager.
Currently, Ferguson’s name has been thrust into the conversation, particularly after his notable achievement of guiding Rangers to a 3-1 away victory over Fenerbahce in the Europa League Round of 16.
However, with the second leg of that tie approaching and the highly-anticipated Old Firm clash with Celtic on the horizon, Ferguson’s prospects of securing the role long-term will be shaped by these key fixtures.
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Several high-profile names continue to be linked with the position, including former Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez, Kilmarnock boss Derek McInnes, and even a potential return for Steven Gerrard, who enjoyed considerable success at Rangers before his departure in November 2021.
“Rangers should have gone for Frank Lampard before he went to Coventry,” he told talkSPORT Bet.
“I’ve said this for a while and I think he could’ve been like Steven Gerrard in the way that they come to the club with the hunger to succeed, as I always felt that he was overly criticised for some of the results at his previous jobs, he looks to have found his feet.”
As for the current interim boss, McCoist admitted that Ferguson’s appointment came as a surprise, but emphasised that he is fully behind the former Rangers captain as he looks to prove himself in a top job.
“I must admit, Barry Ferguson’s appointment surprised me; I thought it was a bit left field,” McCoist continued. “I’m a Rangers supporter, and I want the boys to do well, but it surprised me alongside the rest of the supporters – although that doesn’t mean we’re not all behind him.”
McCoist also reflected on Clement’s departure, stating that while he had hoped the Belgian would be given more time after Rangers’ European progress, it was clear why the manager was sacked following disappointing domestic results, particularly the humiliating home defeats to Queen’s Park and Motherwell.
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“I wasn’t surprised about Philippe Clement losing the job,” the iconic Scottish striker explained.
“I get it, personally I thought that he might have a chance due to their European results, but I can see why you’d get the sack off the back of the Queen’s Park and Motherwell defeats.
“They’re so far from Celtic in the league and out of the cup, domestically they haven’t been good enough. I wasn’t surprised and I’ll never say I’m pleased to see a manager get fired, but I wasn’t disappointed.”
Looking ahead, McCoist remained open to the idea of Gerrard returning to Ibrox, noting that the Englishman would have a point to prove if given another opportunity.
He also highlighted Derek McInnes, a manager with deep ties to the club, as a potential candidate, although he speculated that the ship may have sailed for him.
"There’s talk of Rafa Benitez and Derek McInnes – Derek knows the club well and I’d be happy with him, the ship may have sailed for him though. I can guarantee you that with the new owners coming in, the Rangers job will be heavily sought after and hopefully they can get the right man in to take them forward.”
As Rangers await the appointment of their next permanent manager over the coming months, McCoist’s insights serve as a reminder of the high stakes involved in leading one of Scotland’s biggest football clubs.
The decision on who takes the reins will not only impact the team’s domestic fortunes as they strive to stop Celtic’s dominance, but also their aspirations on the European stage.
