Norwich City boss Neil has emerged as the new favourite to succeed Mark Warburton at Rangers, after the Englishman’s acrimonious departure from Ibrox.
Norwich City boss Alex Neil
Former Norwich City striker Chris Sutton has told BT Sport he would be shocked to see Alex Neil leave the Canaries for Glasgow Rangers.
Rangers remain without a manager, almost three weeks on from Mark Warburton’s acrimonious Ibrox departure, with Neil the latest name to be linked with the Englishman’s old job.
The Scot, who began his career in management at Hamilton Academical, has led Norwich to the Premier League and back again during his two years in charge, but has found himself under pressure this season with the Canaries struggling to keep pace with the top six.
Sutton, however, has a theory as to why his old side have not yet disposed of Neil, and believes it would hinder Rangers’ hopes of hiring the current bookies favourite.
“There was always this lingering thing in the background with Alex Neil about his huge pay-off and whether that kept him in a job,” said the former Celtic striker turned pundit.
Rangers are also on the lookout for a new director of football with Frank McParland following Warburton out of the Ibrox exit door, and have been strongly linked with a move for Southampton head of recruitment, Ross Wilson.
Sutton added: “I would be shocked if he [Neil] ended up at Rangers, although it does look like Ross Wilson is going to be involved.”
In an interview with Talksport on Monday, Southampton chairman Ralph Krueger claimed that while there had been no talks with Rangers as yet, he is powerless to stop the former Falkirk employee returning to his native Scotland.
“I spoke to Ross last week and we had lunch together and he’s very committed and excited to stay with us,” said the Canadian.
Southampton chairman Ralph Krueger (left)
“But for us, we never believe that everybody needs to stay with us forever.
“When you grow as a club, people will come, people will go and at the moment Ross Wilson is an important part of our group and seems committed to where we are moving.
“It’s a compliment to our football that we are getting looked at, at all different levels.
“But there have been no talks there yet.”
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