Alex McLeish says he feared the Rangers job was too difficult. Six months on has he changed his mind?
Alex McLeish is the new bookies favourite to land the Rangers job, with odds slashed on him taking up the vacant role.
The Gers are still looking for a replacement for Pedro Caixinha and McLeish is a credible option, having brought two league titles to Ibrox before during his previous stint at the club.
McLeish was linked with the Rangers job before Caixinha was appointed earlier this year.
He was overlooked on that occasion, but suggested there were reasons which would have stopped him if he was offered it.
The principle reason was rivals Celtic, fearing they were simply too far in front to make overtaking them a realistic option in the short term.
He told the Scottish Sun: “It’ll take time to catch up with Celtic now and I felt, in my heart, that it wasn’t for me just now.
“Maybe it’s better for a young, enthusiastic guy to come in and change it without knowing about all the things that go with being the manager of Rangers.”
Rangers are no closer to Celtic now, and after the upheaval during Caixinha’s spell in charge, the task ahead has not got any easier.
McLeish also added that the boardroom situation and pressure could also put him off, adding: “I thought: ‘Do I really need that at this stage of my life?’ By that I mean the political aspect of it all.”
Rangers fans could soon see if he feels he has changed his mind.
Celtic remain formiddable, but seeing Caixinha struggle could have inspired him to consider that he really is the best man for the job.
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