English club leave Rangers free to appoint a manager Pep Guardiola called ‘incredible’

There is certainly no shortage of managers in recent football history who got the top job after impressing on an interim basis. Should Barry Ferguson ensure a bright end to the season for Rangers, then, that would provide plenty to think about for the Ibrox bosses.

Ross McCormack, a team mate of the former Ibrox captain when starting his career, feels that Barry Ferguson could be kept on at Rangers should he take the team deep into the Europa League while securing a stand-out Old Firm derby victory over Celtic in mid-March.

A legend returning to replace an unpopular manager and breathing new life into a tired old institution? Rangers’ answer to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, perhaps?

For now, though, the signs still point to a full-time successor arriving to succeed Philippe Clement over the summer. Ferguson, lest we forget, has not spent an extended period of time in any dugout since an unsuccessful spell at lower-league Alloa Athletic in 2022.

In terms of permanent appointments, Rangers have been linked with bringing Steven Gerrard back to the club where he won the league four years ago. The chances of that, however, feel slim.

Andy Halliday is talking up former Southampton boss Russell Martin, feeling he would bring a possession-based gameplan while also solving a long-standing issue with low blocks, while Ferguson was full of praise for Derek McInnes before Wednesday’s 4-2 comeback win over Kilmarnock.

One of the names that has snook somewhat under the radar so far, however, is that of David Wagner.

Blackburn Rovers open door for Rangers to land David Wagner

The former Huddersfield Town, Schalke, Young Boys and Norwich City coach is currently out of work following a play-off semi-final defeat to Leeds United last year.

Rangers, according to reports, have placed Wagner on their early managerial shortlist. And should the Glasgow giants plan to formalise their interest later down the line, news of Valerien Ismael’s appointment south of the border at Blackburn Rovers somewhat clears the path.