Derek Johnstone has backed Alex McLeish or a return to Rangers.
General view outside Ibrox
Rangers hero Derek Johnstone has told the Glasgow Evening Times that he thinks Alex McLeish is the perfect candidate to become the club’s new Director of Football.
The Gers are set to appoint Portuguese boss Pedro Caixinha as their new manager following Mark Warburton’s departure last month, but the exit of recruitment chief Frank McParland as well, Rangers are set for a restructure.
Rangers will now pursue a Director of Football to work above Caixinha, but their pursuit of Southampton’s Ross Wilson has ended in rejection, as reported by BBC Sport.
Rangers are now believed to be turning their attention elsewhere, with the Daily Record reporting earlier this week that Paul Mitchell and a mystery candidate are under consideration for the job.
Now though, Rangers hero Derek Johnstone has offered his view on the situation, and told the Glasgow Evening Times that he wants to see Alex McLeish take the job.
McLeish, 58, spent four-and-a-half years in charge of Rangers having arrived from Hibernian in late 2001, and he won two league titles during his time as manager at Ibrox.
Most recently, McLeish has endured difficult spells in charge of Aston Vlla, Nottingham Forest, Genk and Zamalek, and has been out of work since being let go by the latter at the end of last season.
With Caixinha new to Scottish football, Johnstone believes that McLeish would be the ideal man to help him settle in at Ibrox due to his knowledge of the club, and thinks he is a good judge of player in the transfer market.
Alex McLeish
“It was disappointing that Ross Wilson knocked back the director of football job at Rangers, and I know the board have said they will take a long-term approach to finding the right person for the job,” said Johnstone. “Personally though, I think the perfect man that fits the bill is staring them right in the face. For me, it has to be Alex McLeish.”
“I would look for somebody who has been at the club and done a turn for the club. Alex has been the manager, he knows the type of players that are needed to get Rangers going, not only on the park but off it as well. He knows that Rangers need leaders in the side, that’s what they lack, and if Pedro Caixinha needs any advice on any aspect of being the Rangers manager, then who better to talk to than Alex?”
In my book, he has everything required. Not only would he be a good sounding board for Caixinha coming into such a different environment than he has been used to, but he is a sound judge of a player. He’s 58 years of age now, and I think if the club were to approach Alex with the remit of coming in and helping Caixinha out and identifying the players to bring in then he would jump at the chance,” he added.
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