Rangers manager: here’s our favourite choices for the hotseat | OneFootball

If we at Ibrox Noise were given the choice, which we are glad we are not because we would surely get it wrong, who would be our number one? We have proposed a number of names that we are okay with. Gerrard is one of them. However, among those actually being discussed, it is Gerrard, Dyche, Muscat and McInnes who seem to be the strongest candidates. If we had to pick, on Ibrox Noise, one of these men, who would it be? The honest truth is we do not know. We cannot choose. It is a bit of a cop-out, yes, but the reality is that getting the right manager for Rangers is a poison chalice.

Dyche and the Thelwell problem

Sean Dyche is a strong option, but his close association with Kevin Thelwell is a major issue. That is a big problem for us. Thelwell has been a disaster since coming to Ibrox. He has wasted around £45 million and carries the baggage of two disastrous Everton eras — Dyche’s own and Frank Lampard’s. The common denominator? Kevin Thelwell. Now he is at Rangers making the same mistakes. He needs to go before anything improves, and Dyche’s connection to him is a real concern.

Muscat the fighter but not tested enough

Then there is Kevin Muscat. A great winner elsewhere, yes, but those clubs were not in demanding leagues. He understands Rangers because he played for the club, but that was during the Advocaat era, when things were easier. We had serious money, top players and a massive gulf over the rest. Muscat barely had to work for those wins and only played about 20 times for us. Still, he has proven himself as a good manager — just not at the elite level Rangers now need.

McInnes the natural successor

And then there is Derek McInnes. He feels destined to be Rangers manager one day. Of the group, he gets it more than anyone. McInnes knows what Rangers need and still has that burning desire to take the job. Would he leave Hearts right now? Chris Boyd believes that would not be a problem. Ibrox Noise is less sure. He has a comfortable position and is top of the table. It may not last, but Hearts are flying under McInnes and Tony Bloom.

Bloom’s influence at Hearts mirrors what he built at Brighton — a smart, sustainable and ambitious club. If he achieves that in Scotland, it could even challenge the Old Firm dynamic. McInnes is part of that rise, and he may not want to leave something so stable for the chaos of Rangers. His heart might say yes, but his head will say no.

No clear standout, only uncertainty

So here we are — unsure, unconvinced, and yet hopeful. Of those genuinely available, none stands out as the clear answer. As we have said before, we know who is not right for Rangers. Beyond that, it remains a toss-up. The decision ahead is massive, and Rangers cannot afford another mistake.