Gers clear on new boss

RANGERS will name Alex McLeish’s successor following next month’s Champions League tie against Villarreal - and the club already know his identity.

The Ibrox club announced yesterday that manager McLeish will stand down at the end of the season.

Chairman David Murray will make an announcement about the club’s next manager after the last-16 tie against Villarreal, the second leg of which takes place on March 7.

Speaking of McLeish’s successor, Murray said: “We have plans for that and we will announce that when it’s appropriate.”

When asked if the next manager of Rangers would be Frenchman Paul Le Guen, he added: “I’m not going to comment on that. I don’t think today is right to speculate about who it is.

“We are here to talk about what we have already done.

“All I’ve got to say is that we will announce it after the Villarreal game.”

Murray believes it was in the best interest of everyone involved with Rangers to make the announcement regarding McLeish’s future now rather than later.

He added: “The decision had to be made, it’s a premature announcement, but it takes away the grey area.

“We want to get down to winning some football matches.

“We had a very difficult time before Christmas, we seemed to get back on track and we didn’t lose for 10 games but we’ve lost these last two games.

“It’s been very helpful having the supporters’ groups here this week because they speak on behalf of the vast majority of the fans.

“The board, the players, everybody feels it’s the best thing to do.”

Murray will also make an announcement regarding a “significant” investment in the club following the Villarreal game.

And that is likely to mean cash for the new manager to spend on players.

Murray said: “Significant amounts of money will be coming into Rangers Football Club.

“It’s obvious that we’ve got to reinvest real money in players and other areas of the club and that’s our intention.”

McLeish was given a stay of execution in December and the Govan club’s Bank of Scotland Premier League form picked up.

But they lost 2-0 to Aberdeen on Wednesday night, a result which followed an embarrassing 3-0 Tennent’s Scottish Cup fourth-round exit at the hands of Hibernian at Ibrox.

The SPL champions have slipped back into fourth place in the table, behind leaders Celtic, Hearts and Hibernian.

The Light Blues are now 18 points behind their great rivals ahead of the third Old Firm clash of the season at Ibrox on Sunday.

Murray added: “The manager’s departure was agreed in early January as Alex believed that a four-and-a-half-year term at the club was an appropriate period upon which to end his tenure.

“It had always been the board’s intention to make this announcement after the Villarreal Champions League matches, in conjunction with other major changes that will have a significant impact, both in terms of new investment and personnel.

“However, in light of recent results and helpful discussions with various supporters’ groups, directors and senior players, it was agreed that the announcement of the manager’s departure should be made now.

“Alex McLeish has enjoyed a highly successful period winning seven trophies over four and a half years and during this time there has been significant financial constraints throughout the football environment in general.”