Alex McLeish has spoken about being snubbed for a return to manage Rangers in favour of under pressure boss Pedro Caixinha.
Rangers manager Pedro Caixinha
Rangers will end the season in third place in the Scottish Premiership but could finish nearly 40 points behind their bitter rivals and champions Celtic.
Supporters had hoped to see the Ibrox side provide the Hoops with a genuine challenge after their long-awaited return to the top flight.
But that hasn’t materialised and a change of manager, with Pedro Caixinha replacing Mark Warburton, has not inspired a change of tide either.
Caixinha has faced criticism over his tactics from some quarters including former Gers manager Alex McLeish, who guided the club to two Scottish Premier League titles and five cups in five years.
And McLeish, who last managed Egyptian side Zamalek where he was sacked after just three months in 2016, has revealed on talkSPORT he was turned down for a return to Ibrox following Warburton’s departure, in favour of Caixinha.
“I did speak to Rangers and I wasn’t offered it as such,” McLeish told Alan Brazil’s Sports Breakfast.
Former Rangers boss Alex McLeish
“It (the interview) was fine, it was nice and casual, three guys that I’ve known for about 15 years so it wasn’t really a problem, it wasn’t even an interview as such.
“A Harry (Redknapp) type situation (rescue act on a short term contract), I did offer that but they made it clear they wanted someone to go the distance, a manager to be there ready when and if they got into Europe because the league finishes so quickly and then there’s only about a month to recover so they wanted to keep that momentum going so you have to say credit to them for that.”
Dave King is under pressure to revisit the managerial situation or back the Portuguese with the funds necessary to start clawing back ground on Celtic.
Dave King
To that end he has pledged to give Caixinha a war chest to rebuild Rangers this summer, as reported by the likes of The Sun.
But the Ibrox chairman has warned the new Light Blues manager he will not tolerate attractive football at the expense of winning.
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