Could Rangers’ Next Head Coach Already Be in Their Midst?

Rangers’ hunt for a new head coach to replace Russell Martin is still ongoing, with more than two candidates on the shortlist after Steven Gerrard withdrew from the process.

But is the solution to their problems “staring them in the face”?

Former Sheffield Wednesday boss Danny Rohl appears to be one of the candidates on the list after he reportedly held talks with the the club’s hierarchy last week.

Yet Daily Record sports writer Scott McDermott and former Rangers striker Rory Loy both believe the 36-year-old, who has had spells as an assistant with RB Leipzig, Bayern Munich and the German national team, is not the answer for Rangers.

Instead McDermott thinks current Hearts boss Derek McInnes would make a better replacement for the departed Russell Martin, who lasted just 17 games after being appointed in June.

“We know Rangers have spoken to Danny Rohl, they spoke to him before they appointed Russell Martin, so he’s obviously been on their radar for a while,” McDermott told the BBC’s Scottish Football Podcast.

“Is he the right guy for Rangers? Not for me, not for what Rangers need at the moment.

“He’s a very highly rated young coach. Sheffield Wednesday is the only managerial gig so far, but he has worked at a high level with Germany and Bayern Munich.

“In Rangers’ situation at the moment, the predicament they find themselves in both in the league but also just historically with lack of success and trophies in the past 10 to 15 years, they need a specific type of manager.

“With all due respect, I’m not sure a 36-year-old coach coming from the English Championship is exactly what they need.

“For me, the answer is staring Rangers in the face. The answer for Rangers is Derek McInnes at the moment.”

Loy says there are parallels that can be drawn between Martin and Rohl and feels Rangers fans would want to steer clear of a repeat of the last four months.

But the right person for the job remains unclear to him.

“There are some similarities in that Martin and Rohl have both managed in the English Championship,” Loy told the podcast.

“But Barry Bannan saying he’s the best coach he’s ever worked with, I just don’t think Rangers fans want to hear that again.

“It’s good for players to be saying that but that’s one thing the board said about Russell Martin before appointing him and those words haunted him.

“Rohl and Martins’ backgrounds are so similar so you don’t need to have experience and understand the club to know that that profile of manager isn’t going to work.

“You need a manager that’s going to come in, win trophies, have this aura, have this presence first and foremost away from being a coach.

“But who is that? Where do you get him? Can you afford him? And does he want the job?”