Kevin Muscat still meets Rangers next manager criteria as takeover kings hear exactly what unflinching boss craves
The former Ibrox midfielder has long been linked with the hot seat - but could finally jet in this summer
Shanghai Port boss Kevin Muscat has laid out his perfect football environment amid speculation he could storm back onto the Rangers agenda.
The Australian had been touted as one of the early favourites to replace Philippe Clement permanently.
But off the back of league and cup double in China speculation cooled over a potential appointment by the incoming US consortium in the summer.
Pressure is on Andrew Cavenagh and 49ers Enterprises to get it right when they take control at Ibrox - with the new season set to start for the Light Blues in July with Champions League qualifiers.
Steven Gerrard is reportedly being considered on the longlist of candidates - with Russell Martin, Rob Edwards and Gary O'Neil also named as potential candidates.
But it is noted that foreign candidates are also on the agenda - which also opens the door for former Light Blues' midfielder Muscat.
He was 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 Clement.
And the boss has made it clear that he needs people behind the scenes who buy into his all-out attacking style of play - just like in Shanghai
Speaking to Bruce, Muscat said: "Winning trophies is one thing, but the football allowed us to do that.
"The great thing about being here is, yes, success is demanded not only from the club, but from the fans. That expectation has grown, especially considering last season.
"But working with the people in this club who have a genuine belief and a genuine enjoyment for the way we play - that's the environment I like to be in, if I'm honest as well.
"There's a genuine willingness and effort, and desire to win things and that expectation is on us once again this year."
And he has dropped a hint on what his football philosophy would look like should he take it to the blue half of Glasgow.
Discussing the changes he put in place at Port, the gaffer said: "If you arrive somewhere and you've got a belief and a real strong desire to do something, it grows on people and that's what happened here.
"They could sense the belief in what we were trying to do and what we wanted to do, and that became infectious.
"You have to learn it wherever you go, but you understand that it's you (who) has to make sacrifices culturally, because you are coming into an environment - and of course you have your certain beliefs and your non-negotiables because to play the way we play you have to train a certain way.
"But then understanding where everyone sits culturally we have had to adapt.
"Certainly, when we got here we had to adapt the way we train because it was so different to what the group was used to."
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