Rangers are looking for a new manager after Mark Warburton’s departure.
General view outside Ibrox
Pundit Steve Nicol has told ESPN that he thinks the Rangers job is a poisoned chalice, suggesting that he wouldn’t want to manage his boyhood club right now.
The Gers are searching for a new manager after confirming last Friday that Mark Warburton had resigned from his position, amid intense pressure from disgruntled supporters.
Whilst Graeme Murty is in caretaker charge of the club, fans are discussing who could replace Warburton in the Ibrox hot seat, with a number of ex-Rangers men suggested for the post.
Frank de Boer, Billy Davies and Derek McInnes all appeared for the club during their respective playing days, whilst Alex McLeish – who spent four and a half years as Gers manager – has also been touted for the job.
One man who hasn’t been touted for the job is Steve Nicol, who spent nine years as manager of MLS side New England Revolution, but hasn’t managed since leaving in 2011.
Now a pundit, the 55-year-old former Scotland international has previously admitted that he grew up supporting Rangers, and he’s now been asked about the job.
Speaking to ESPN, Nicol was asked whether he would like to replace Warburton, but suggested that managing Rangers is a ‘poisoned chalice’ as it’s so difficult to get close to Celtic, due to their current quality and their budget for new signings.
Steve Nicol
Nicol added that whilst Rangers are close to his heart, he can’t see why any coach would really think they could succeed with the club in their current state.
“To be honest, it’s a bit of a poisoned chalice,” said Nicol. “Obviously, being a Rangers fan as a kid growing up, it was the team. But if you’re a coach, and you really want to put yourself in a position to succeed, it’s going to be hard for you if you go to Rangers right now.”
“Celtic are so far ahead, both in terms of quality on the field and the capabilities of adding to that quality, that somebody like Rangers right now, can’t afford to go out and get players who are going to compete with Celtic, so where do you go as a coach?” he added.
Would you like to see Nicol manage Rangers?