Ibrox side Glasgow Rangers probably won’t be hiring Graeme Murty, but should they look at Jaap Stam?
What a difference a month makes. This day in March, Rangers beat Falkirk 4-1 at Ibrox for what was the Gers’ sixth successive victory under Graeme Murty.
Considering Rangers had also scored 23 goals during that winning streak, it seemed like Murty might well be staking a very serious claim to get the full-time job at Ibrox next season.
But one point from the subsequent three Premiership games might have put paid to the 43-year-old’s chances of being the club’s next permanent manager and defeat by Celtic in the Scottish Cup this month would rule him out entirely.
With that in mind, the Glasgow giants are probably already drawing up a shortlist of names to take over from Murty this summer and should Jaap Stam be on it?
The Dutchman was sacked by Reading last month, after a run of one victory in 18 Championship games, but the 45-year-old did lead the Royals to the playoff final in his first season in charge last term and Rangers could do a lot worse than that appointment.
Due to his good work last season, Stam might be a manager in demand for a host of Championship clubs willing to overlook his disastrous second year and the Ibrox outfit would have to act fast.
He does not have the thickest of CVs, given that the Berkshire side represented his first job in a managerial role, but Pedro Caixinha had an 18-year coaching career at his back and had been manager at four different clubs prior to arriving in Scotland and look at how successful that venture was.
What Stam does have is an illustrious playing career at his back and the potential to be a very decent manager, and Rangers aren’t in a position to baulk at the prospect of hiring him.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
