Rangers are once again likely to look outside Scotland for a manager after Steven Gerrard turned down an opportunity to return to the club.
The former Liverpool and England international had been the first choice of the Ibrox board but after face-to-face meetings in London the 45-year-old said the timing was not right for him.
That was despite widespread reports that he was keen on a second stint at Rangers whom he managed between 2018 and 2021, winning one league title.
His return was seen as such a certainty that some bookmakers had suspended betting on him to replace Russell Martin who was fired last week after just 123 days in the job.
Gerrard met the Rangers chairman Andrew Cavenagh, vice-chairman Paraag Marathe and 49ers Enterprises technical director Gretar Steinsson, but was thought to be uneasy about the managerial structure in which Kevin Thelwell operates as sporting director.
Potential candidates will now consider themselves second choice which could put a higher price on their taking up the post.
Derek McInnes, the only likely target in Scotland , will take some persuading to leave Tynecastle with Hearts at the top of the league and having said it was a job he coveted.
Representatives of the former German national team assistant coach and Sheffield Wednesday manager Danny Röhl, have been in contact with Rangers.
Other potential candidates include former Wolverhampton Wanderers boss Gary O’Neil and Kevin Muscat, who has enjoyed success in Australia, Japan and China. Muscat is now in charge of Chinese Super League champions and league leaders Shanghai Port.
Sean Dyche, who managed Burnley and Everton, would also provide English Premier League experience, but he is now being linked to Nottingham Forest if ex-Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou does not turn around a poor run of form.
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