Rangers board: No confusion or turmoil inside Ibrox

Rangers managing director Stewart Robertson has defended the pace of the club's recruitment process as they finally approach the conclusion of their search for a new management team.

Managing Director Stewart Robertson defended the speed of the process. Picture: John Devlin

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Robertson expects to be able to announce a director of football “very soon”, with Southampton’s head of recruitment and scouting Ross Wilson understood to be the preferred candidate.

A successor as manager to Mark Warburton, who left the club on 10 February, will follow. Pedro Caixinha, a 46-year-old Portuguese coach currently in charge of Al-Gharafa in Qatar, is on a short-list for the job which also includes former Rangers manager Alex McLeish and ex-Birmingham City boss Gary Rowett.

Caretaker manager Graeme Murty, who last night oversaw a dramatic 3-2 win over St Johnstone at Ibrox in the Premiership, is likely to remain in charge for Saturday’s Scottish Cup quarter-final at home to Hamilton Accies.

Rangers hope to have their new man in place for the Old Firm game at Celtic Park the following weekend and Robertson insists the club’s board have been right to take their time since Warburton’s departure.

“There is no confusion or turmoil inside Rangers,” he wrote in last night’s match programme. “There has always been a clarity of purpose. A management team resigned and is about to be replaced after an intense and detailed process, which was absolutely necessary given the lack of progress on the playing front so far this season.

“We simply could not be hurried into making appointments which might not have been correct for the club’s long term development.

“It is important to remember just how far Rangers has come in a short period and to keep in mind that we are still laying down foundations which will ensure a successful future. I am confident the new manager and director of football will drive us towards that future.

“Our search (for the manager) has been narrowed down to a few outstanding candidates, who we believe possess the necessary skills and attributes. We have been deliberately forensic in our search, studying every detail of each manager’s character, his work and his style and we have sought many references for those who have stood out from the rest.

“Above all though, our next manager will be someone who understands that defeat can never be acceptable. Rangers is synonymous with winning and we will select a manager who is also a winner.

“Frankly, results must improve and so it is vital that we appoint soon. Doing so will also allow our new manager a few months to assess the current squad while formalising his summer recruitment plans. Again, the funds are there to support the new manager.”