Steven Smith to take caretaker charge for Dundee United clash
Steven Smith, Rhys Owens and Sal Bibbo will take charge for Rangers’ clash against Dundee United at Ibrox this Saturday. The Light Blues sacked Russell Martin 11 days ago but are close to appointing Kevin Muscat as talks have been progressing well. It’s been reported that Muscat won’t join the Gers until the Chinese Super League is finished as he currently has Shanghai Port top of the table. Neil McCann looks like he will be part of the former Australian international’s backroom team and will most likely lead the team until his arrival. Last night Danny Rohl told the Ibrox club that he was no longer interested in becoming Martin’s replacement. It was expected that Steven Gerrard was set to make a stunning return before he turned down the opportunity for the second time as the timing wasn’t right. The Govan club are nine points behind Celtic and 11 behind Hearts and the next few weeks could be season defining for them.
Danny Rohl pulls out of the race to become the next Rangers boss
Danny Rohl has told Rangers that he has pulled out of the race to become the next Ibrox boss The former Sheffield Wednesday manager spoke with Andrew Cavenagh and Paarag Marathe last week and were impressed by the German. However, the 36-year-old informed the Ibrox club that he is no longer interested in continuing discussions. Rohl becomes the second manager to withdraw from the process as Steven Gerrard knocked the Gers back last weekend. The Light Blues sacked Russell Martin after only 123 days in charge and have still yet to find his replacement. Kevin Muscat looks set to become the Govan club’s new head coach as talks have been progressing well. The Shanghai Port manager currently has his side top of the Chinese Super League as they close in on a second successive league title. The Teddy bears are back in league action this weekend against Dundee United and it’s expected Neil McCann is set to be in caretaker charge for that fixture.
Former Rangers icon accuses Rangers of ‘snobbery’ towards Scottish managers
Rangers are still on the hunt for a new manager following the sacking of Russell Martin after only 123 days in charge. The Ibrox club were left stunned over the weekend as Steven Gerrard rejected them for a second time. The bombshell news left the Gers board scrambling as they’ve spoken to Kevin Muscat and Danny Rohl. One manager that’s always been linked with the Light Blues is Hearts boss Derek McInnes, who currently has his side top of the Scottish Premiership and just won Manager of the Month for September. Former Rangers star Kris Boyd has always been a huge admirer of the Scottish manager and believes he would be the perfect fit for the Govan club. He told Sky Sports News: “Every appointment is a risk. There’s appointments that are less of a risk and that’s why I keep going back to Derek McInnes. “He’s showing for a number of years, what he done at Aberdeen. He went in and took a Kilmarnock team out of the Championship and was playing European football within a couple years, and he’s went to Hearts and you look at the job he’s done there, so far. “Sometimes, I’ve said it before regarding players in Scotland, Rangers have had a snobbery towards signing Scottish players recently and it seems to be the same with managers.” Boyd maintains that the Ibrox job is still an attractive role, despite the position they find themselves in. He added: “I know it doesn’t look great because they’ve struggled to get a manager in right now but it’s still a fantastic football club. “It’s still a huge institution that will continue to thrive. But it just seems if right now somebody needs to get a grip of it, and for me Derek McInnes would be that person to do that.”
Kevin Muscat is now odds on favourite to become the next Rangers boss
Kevin Muscat has emerged as the odds on favourite to become the next Rangers boss following Russell Martin’s sacking. It looked set in stone that Steven Gerrard was going to make a return to Ibrox but rejected the offer for the second as the timing wasn’t right. The former Australian international currently has Shanghai Port top of the Chinese Super League and are on course for a second successive title. It’s been reported that Neil McCann could be part of the the 52-year-old’s backroom team, and could take charge of the team this Saturday against Dundee United as Muscat plans to finish the season out in China. The Crawley-born manager has won the J1 League and the A-League Premiership, picking up a total of seven trophies throughout his coaching career in Australia, Japan and China. A deal between Muscat and the Light Blues could be finalised in the next 48 hours if all goes to plan. Muscat played for the Govan club 26 times and was part of the treble winning squad in 2002.
Where do Rangers go from here after a second rejection from Steven Gerrard?
Steven Gerrard shockingly rejected the opportunity to return to Rangers for the second time. As reported last week, talks had been progressing well between the Ibrox board and Gerrard, as he was the leading candidate but the timing wasn’t quite right again for the Liverpool legend. Both parties said that the door will be left open in the future for a possible return but the Light Blues have been left with egg on their faces. Former Sheffield Wednesday boss Danny Rohl met with Andrew Cavenagh and Paarag Marathe and it’s been said that he’s impressed the Gers higher ups. Kevin Muscat has emerged as a serious contender to replace Russell Martin as the Ibrox chiefs are strong admirers of the Shanghai Port head coach. Former West Ham boss Slaven Bilic is also in the running and is apparently keen on making the move to Glasgow. The Govan club are set to face Dundee United this weekend and it’s expected they’ll have their man in the dugout before the clash against Jim Goodwin’s men.
Inverurie Loco Works welcome Brechin City to Harlaw Park on Saturday in the Highland League.
Inverurie Loco Works welcome Brechin City to Harlaw Park on Saturday in the Highland League. Inverurie Locos haven’t started the season off as hoped as the Locos sit 14th with only three wins to their name. Inverurie had an unbelievable run end of last season going on a long 13 game unbeaten run with 12 of those games being wins. Locos have failed to bring the form into the season starting off with 6 defeats in a row. Locos have been at victim of some heavy defeats so far such as a 5-0 home defeat to Clachnachuddin and a 4-1 defeat to Forres Mechanics. They have had a big 4-0 win against Rothes along the way. Inverurie have also suffered heartbreak with Sauchie Juniors dumping the Highland League side out of the Scottish Cup. For the visitors, Brechin they have a decent enough start, sitting fourth in the league with a game in hand. Should The Hedge Men take three points from their game in hand, they may grab top spot in the league. Brechin have only been defeated twice in league action losing to Formartine United and top of the league, Fraserburgh. Brechin have had some crucial wins such as a 8-1 away win at Rothes and a 5-0 win over Buckie Thistle. Brechin also were on the winning end in all of their opening six fixtures. Brechin also grabbed a place in the Scottish Cup second round with a 3-1 win over Lochee United. Last meeting Last time the two sides clashed, the Locos were winners, defeating Brechin 1-0 at Harlaw Park courtesy of a Milosz Ochmanski goal. Last time out Locos last time out edged out Keith at Harlaw Park in a 1-0 victory thanks to a goal from former Sheffield United man, Paul Coutts from the penalty spot. For Saturday’s visitors, they were edged out by Fraserburgh 1-0 at Glebe Park in the top of the table clash. An own goal by Dugald Farquhar gave the Broch the vital three points.
Rangers close to an agreement with Steven Gerrard to make iconic Ibrox return
Rangers are close to an agreement with Steven Gerrard to make a sensational return to Ibrox. Gerrard touched down in London this week and had positive talks with chairman Andrew Cavenagh and vice chairman Paraag Marathe as they hunt for a replacement for Russell Martin. The former England international has been the hot favourite to get the managerial gig, four years after departing the Ibrox club for Aston Villa. Gerrard held talks with the Gers board in the summer about replacing Philippe Clement as boss but couldn’t come to an agreement as it wasn’t the ‘right time’ for the Liverpool legend. However, things have changed now as the 45-year-old has made a new-turn and looks set to become the Light Blues’ 21st permanent manager in the club’s prestigious 153-year history. Gerrard is adored by the Rangers faithful as he delivered the Govan club’s 55th league title in 2021.
‘He’ll raise the standards’ – Kris Boyd believes Steven Gerrard’s return ends fan fury
Steven Gerrard’s sensational return to Rangers edges ever closer as positive talks are being had with the Ibrox board in London. The Light Blues are on the hunt for their 21st permanent manager in the club’s history following the sacking of Russell Martin after 123 days in charge. Gerrard left the Gers four years ago after winning the Scottish Premiership and stopped Celtic winning ten league titles in a row. The Englishman has been out of the game since departing Al-Ettifaq nine months ago, but is keen to return to management if the right opportunity comes available. Former Rangers striker Kris Boyd believes the appointment of the footballing legend is a no brainer and he knows what is required to be a success at the Govan club. He said on Sky Sports News: “If there is a deal to be done with Steven Gerrard I think it should get done. “You look at what he brought to Rangers the last time – it needs that sort of lift and injection again because it’s been flat now for a period of time. “Steven will no doubt bring a presence with him. He’ll lift the standards. And I think, first and foremost, he knows what’s required to be a success at Rangers football club. “It’s not as if he’s going to come into something that’s alien to him. He’s been there. He’s had the pressures of a city in Liverpool on his shoulders for a number of years. “He came to Glasgow. It took him time, but he eventually got there, and you just felt as if the Rangers board at that time would have backed him, then he would probably have won more. “They didn’t. He decided to leave, and I think that’s why he’s saying he’s saying he’s got a lot of unfinished business in football, and there’s no doubt that Rangers football club were one of those.” Boyd added that the return of the 45-year-old will get the Rangers faithful feeling positive about the future and would end the toxicity that is currently surrounding the football club: “There’s been a lot of discontent between the fans and the club. But I get the feeling that if Rangers are bold enough to get Steven Gerrard, then that would all disappear. “Everybody would be happy to look forward to your next match, but listen, when you’re going to get somebody like Steven Gerrard, and you know what he’s going to bring. “You know the standards and the presence he’s coming that I’ve spoken about there. But the big thing for me would be that he’s a winner. “Rangers football club needs people in there who understand what it takes to win games with football. Steven Gerrard has definitely got that. “He’s won at Rangers before, they’ll be hoping that he can come back and kick on from there.”
Can Hearts win the Scottish Premiership?
Hearts have had an incredible start to the Scottish Premiership season as they currently sit top of the table unbeaten. Derek McInnes joined the Jambos four months ago and has been a revelation as they’ve beaten Rangers and Hibernian already this season. The Jam Tarts are two points ahead of Celtic and 11 clear of the Light Blues as both of the Old Firm are massively under performing. As McInnes’ men are on red hot form, there’s been bold predictions from fans and pundits alike that this could be the season a team outside of the Hoops and the Gers could win the league. The last time a team outside of Glasgow’s big two won the league was Sir Alex Ferguson’s Aberdeen in 1985. The Hearts boss has played down talk of his side being potential title challengers and is just taking each game as it comes. Social media content creator and long-life fan of the boys in Maroon ‘Hearts_Enthusiast’ Graeme Duthie spoke to SNN Sports about his team’s unbelievable start to the season: “It’s been a far better start than I think we could have imagined, 12 games in all competitions and only the defeat to St Mirren in the League Cup has been the only disappointment. “I think he has changed the mentality at the club and none more so than late winners against Dundee United, Livingston and the best one being Hibs. “He is going into every game to try and win it and not setting up thinking about trying to not lose. To be sitting top after only 7 league games is beyond any Hearts fans wildest dream.” Despite the excellent start to the campaign, Duthie added that the title may be too much of an ask this season as Brendan Rodgers’ men will more than likely strengthen in the January transfer window but believes finishing second is a strong possibility: “It’s been a far better start than I think we could have imagined, 12 games in all competitions and only the defeat to St Mirren in the League Cup has been the only disappointment. “I think he has changed the mentality at the club and none more so than late winners against Dundee United, Livingston and Hibs. “He is going into every game to try and win it and not setting up thinking about trying to note lose. “To be sitting top of the league after only seven league games is beyond any Hearts fans wildest dreams.” Despite the excellent start to the campaign, Duthie added that the title may be too much of an ask this season: “I don’t mind anyone whether it’s media or fans thinking it could happen as there is nothing wrong with showing ambition. “But personally, I don’t think we will as I think consistency is really important and over the course of the season I don’t see us being consistent. “I also think Celtic will get better as the season goes on and if come January we are still there near the top Celtic will go and spend money that we just can’t compete with. “Right now we have broken our transfer record with Ageu but if Celtic go and spend £7 million or more on a player we just can’t do that. “I think with the squad we have and the manager we have there’s every chance we could finish second but I think the title is something that might be out of our reach right now.”
Jesper Karlsson in full belief the Dons can find their feet following Dundee victory
Jasper Karlsson believes Aberdeen can kick start their season after the International break. On loan Bologna winger, Jesper Karlsson believes the dons can get going after claiming their first league win of the campaign against Dundee. Despite their 4-0 win over Steven Presley’s Dundee, they remain bottom but the dons look like they’re on the rise again. Aberdeen played fantastically against Dundee in their 4-0 victory which could’ve definitely have been more in a very bright display. Aberdeen haven’t had the start they’d hoped for but a big win on the weekend restores belief within the Aberdeen side. The on loan Bologna man came up with 2 goals against Dundee as well as a goal against Shakhtar Donetsk from the penalty spot on Thursday night. Karlsson hopes to be a key player at the Pittodrie side as the Swede looks to be an outstanding capture. The Italian outfit signed Jesper from Dutch side, AZ Alkmaar for £10million and is certainly a gem of a pickup by Jimmy Thelin. Karlsson will be looking to continue to help Aberdeen as they prepare for a trip to Paisley to face St Mirren after the International break, a place where Aberdeen have found to be very difficult in past meetings. Karlsson said: “There is now a little bit more relief for the situation we are in. “We have a good team with good players and I think we just need some games to get things going. “And a little bit of luck or something, and then we will go forward.” Aberdeen’s disastrous start to the season displayed signs of turning around when narrowly losing to Shakhtar Donetsk in Europe. Jesper said: “We built on what we did in the Shakhtar game. “It was good to do that and then go on to get the win against Dundee. “At the penalty I wanted to shoot to the middle, so it wasn’t good. “However, the second goal was really good. “Adil (Aouchiche) and Emmanuel (Gyamfi) scored too, so it was very good from everyone to get goals.”
