Rangers target Derek McInnes has snubbed a move to Ibrox.
Pundit Kris Commons has told the Daily Mail that he is ‘gobsmacked’ that Aberdeen boss Derek McInnes has snubbed a move to become the new Rangers manager.
The Gers sacked manager Pedro Caixinha back in October, but have still yet to find a replacement more than a month on, with the Rangers board taking their time to find the right man.
The favourite throughout the process has been Aberdeen boss Derek McInnes, given that he not only boasts a win rate of almost 58% over his time with the Dons, but has ties to Ibrox having played for Rangers and grown up supporting the club.
After beating Aberdeen twice in a matter of days, Rangers finally decided to approach the Dons for McInnes on Tuesday, but were immediately rebuffed – and things got even worse for the Gers on Thursday.
McInnes announced on Thursday evening that he has decided to stay with Aberdeen rather than head to Ibrox, leaving Rangers’ managerial search in tatters.
Pundit Kris Commons has now offered his view to the Daily Mail, admitting that he is ‘gobsmacked’ that McInnes has turned down the job, given that he would have earned a bigger salary, managed his boyhood club and been given a bigger budget to work with.
Commons noted McInnes is unlikely to ever get the chance to manage Rangers again after this snub, and thinks Rangers must appoint somebody ‘special’ to make up for missing out on their top target.
“Gobsmacked. That is the only word for it,” said Commons. “Rangers have finally managed to get a bit of a wow factor into their six-week hunt for a manager — just not in the way anyone ever expected. I have said before that when Celtic appointed Brendan Rodgers, I thought: ‘Amazing, is this really happening?’ But I was more staggered to hear that Derek McInnes won’t be taking the Rangers job. I genuinely couldn’t believe it was true. If nothing else, this has shown us how shambolic it must be behind the scenes at Ibrox. The Aberdeen manager would surely have got a bigger salary by moving — and certainly a bigger budget. Rangers is a bigger club with bigger ambitions, namely trying to stop Celtic from reaching Ten-in-a-Row.”
“You then look at the last two games between the clubs. There was a gulf in class on the field because Rangers were excellent in both of them. They looked a better team than Aberdeen. So when you take all that into account, it makes it all the more incredible that McInnes would knock back the chance to move. From what I’m led to believe, the compensation money was there. That wouldn’t have been an issue. So what part of it does McInnes look at and think: ‘This is not for me?’ Let’s not be daft about this — it would be his dream job. He grew up as a Rangers supporter, he played for the club and he would love to be in charge. So for him to turn down that chance is something else, especially as he will know he might never get the chance again. Not after this.”
“A statement from Ibrox last night confirmed Graeme Murty will now remain in interim charge until at least the end of the year. But where do they go after that? That is the real question. It has been 43 days since Pedro Caixinha was fired. In the dressing room at Auchenhowie, the players must be wondering what they have to do to get a manager. The Rangers board argued they had to take their time because they had to get it right. Well, Mr Right has just knocked them back. Those in charge at the club better hope they can eventually woo someone pretty special to make up for it,” he added.
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