Several of the names linked with Glasgow Rangers are now being touted as potential contenders for the Leicester City job.
Nearly two weeks after Mark Warburton’s departure from Rangers was confirmed, the Scottish Premiership side are still searching for their new manager. And while their stature and the lack of jobs elsewhere in Britain meant that several impressive names were initially linked, it could be argued that Leicester City’s decision to part company with Claudio Ranieri could now punish the Gers for not acting sooner.
The likes of Alan Pardew and Frank de Boer have been included amongst the bookmakers’ favourites for the Ibrox job following Warburton’s departure (via SkyBet), and it is fair to say that either would be hugely popular appointments, especially given some of the names that have been linked.
Like Pardew and de Boer, the likes of Malky Mackay and Dougie Freedman find themselves available at shorter prices than 10/1 with SkyBet. But unlike the previously mentioned pair, neither Mackay nor Freedman are likely to be warmly received.
Freedman’s managerial career has often been disappointing while Mackay’s record is not much better and it must not be forgotten that he spent five years at Celtic during his playing days.
However, the Rangers hierarchy may have to accept that their decision to seemingly take their time over an appointment has now left them vulnerable to potentially missing out on whoever is deemed to be their number one target.
Frank de Boer
The likes of Pardew, de Boer and Gary Rowett are just some of the names currently in the running for the Leicester job at prices at 10/1 or lower (via SkyBet), and it would surely be difficult for any of those to justify potentially choosing the Ibrox job over a side that lifted the Premier League title last season.
Although Leicester are in a precarious position this time around, the fact that Rangers are so far behind their Old Firm foes surely cannot be ignored especially as finishing third is not good enough this season for the long-suffering Gers supporters, and soon, finishing second will be viewed as being just as disappointing.
But Rangers supporters should arguably be wondering why the search has been allowed to get into the position it is now in the first place where Leicester may well get first dibs on a potential manager.
Alan Pardew
As previously mentioned, Warburton’s departure was confirmed nearly two weeks ago, but chairman Dave King’s statement on the club’s official website shortly after the announcement suggested that a discussion where an agreement was supposedly met regarding his exit had taken place several days before.
Therefore, it is not like they have not had the time to get stuck in to finding a new manager. But unfortunately for Gers fans, the club’s seemingly relaxed attitude to make an appointment has potentially left their chances of landing a top manager reliant on what Leicester do.
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