Steven Gerrard lands next Rangers boss pitch as takeover kings gifted blueprint with Muscat and Rose stance clear
The Ibrox side are on the hunt for their next permanent manager with the campaign rapidly drawing to a close
Out of work Steven Gerrard would be the man to lead Rangers out of a "shambles" following the US consortium takeover at Ibrox.
That is according to former Light Blues' winger Jamie Murphy - who reckons his former boss should be the man that American pharmaceutical tycoon Andrew Cavenagh and 49ers Enterprises turn to after taking control of the club.
The former Rangers manager and Marco Rose are the firm joint favourites for the permanent gig beyond the tenure of interim boss Barry Ferguson with oddsmakers.
Gerrard has been out of work since leaving Al-Ettifaq earlier this season with the club plummeting towards the Saudi Pro League drop zone.
His time in the Middle East followed up an ill-fated spell in the Premier League with Aston Villa - after he left Ibrox in 2021 - with the Midlands outfit also facing a scrap at the foot of the table before Gerrard was shown the door.
49ers Enterprises Technical Director Gretar Steinsson is set to have a major role in choosing the next man in the hot seat - and Murphy reckons that Gerrard's trophy record shouldn't count against him.
During his three-year tenure he lifted one trophy, and the Ayr United man told the Go Radio Football Show: "I think it's easy to look at records.
"Ultimately, that is what people will look at, but when he came into Rangers we were a bit of a shambles in terms of managers and directors had fallen out, we didn't have the right training kit, the training ground needed fixed - everything.
"He brought in his staff and got them to the level that they were good enough to win the league. That is what Rangers fan wanted.
"It is not quite in the state it was when he first took it over, but if he was to come in there would certainly be improvement.
"The improvement that went through Rangers first time around was there for everyone to see."
Shanghai Port boss Kevin Muscat has been consistently touted with a move to the host seat after being interviewed for the Rangers job after Michael Beale was axed following two successful seasons with Yokohama F. Marinos - but the decision-makers at Ibrox opted to go with Philippe Clement.
Since then, Muscat has gone on to lift a league and cup double in China - and is not battling for another Chinese Super League crown.
Going into the clash with Beijing Guoan, he insisted his focus was on the title fight after a sluggish start to the season: "We know there is a lot of interest when we play against Beijing, so we are looking forward to working together along with our fans to be successful."
Reports in Egypt suggest former RB Leipzig boss Rose is open to a quick-fore return to management - having been shown the door by the Bundesliga side this season.
It is claimed that Al Ahly are keen to open talks with German amid growing speculation he could be in the running for the Gers job.
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