Report: Five names emerge as potential Rangers managerial targets, including Derek McInnes

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Rangers are set to go back to basics following the dismissal of manager Pedro Caixinha on Thursday.

Rangers took a risk appointing Pedro Caixinha as Mark Warburton’s successor back in March. The Portuguese arrived at Ibrox as an unknown quantity, having spent the majority his managerial career in Mexico and the Middle East rather than cultivating a reputation on British shores.

Seven months later, however, Caixinha was dismissed following a series of disappointing signings, unseemly internal rows and below-par results. And it seems that, after the risk backfired spectacularly, Rangers are now prepared to play it safe.

The Daily Record report that the Ibrox giants want to go back to basics with their next manager and will only consider British candidates who know what it means to manage a club of the size of Rangers.

The report states that chairman Dave King is ready to pay compensation to appoint a coach already in work elsewhere and will look to lure them to Glasgow with the promise of a sizeable transfer kitty in January.

And the report states that there are five names who will now emerge as frontrunners for the role with Rangers deciding that British is best.

Best of five?

Aberdeen boss Derek McInnes is understood to be the club’s first choice on the back of four stellar seasons at Pittodrie. The Dons have finished runners-up to Celtic in each of the last three seasons.

Another domestic-based boss, St Johnstone’s Tommy Wright is also on their radar. As is David Moyes (below) despite the Scot going from one of Britain’s most respected coaches to an apparent busted flush after disastrous spells at Manchester United, Real Sociedad and Sunderland.

Michael O’Neil, who led Northern Ireland to their first major tournament in 30 years when qualifying for Euro 2016, is also in the frame. And even Alex McLeish, who led Rangers to two Scottish Premiership titles during his previous spell at Ibrox but has not managed in Britain since 2013, is a possibility.

As it stands, however, it appears King’s priority is to pay big and lure McInnes from Aberdeen.

Former Rangers defender Frank de Boer however, the first choice among many fans, appears unlikely to be considered.