Rangers: Kevin Muscat close to agreement to be head coach

Rangers are also working to secure Muscat’s back team and tie up all the relevant paperwork needed for the Australian to coach in Scotland.

Youth coach Stevie Smith will take charge of the team for Saturday’s league clash against Dundee United at Ibrox, but it is not yet clear who will be in charge of the Europa League clash away to Bran Bergen on Thursday.

Muscat emerged as the favorite for the job after former manager Steven Gerrard withdrew his candidacy at the weekend, saying the timing was not right for him to return to Ibrox.

Former Sheffield Wednesday boss Danny Ruhl was also under consideration, but the German also pulled out of the race on Wednesday.

Crawley-born Muscat, who spent a season as a Rangers player, began his coaching career with Melbourne Victory, with whom he won the A-League title.

After a less successful spell with Sint-Truiden in Belgium, he led Yokohama F. Marinos to the J-League title before taking over at Shanghai in 2023, winning the title last season and four games away from retaining it this season.

Rangers remain searching for a new head coach after former Southampton boss Russell Martin was sacked after just 17 games into the former Ibrox defender’s reign.

The Glasgow club head into Saturday’s match against United sitting eighth in the Scottish Premiership, nine points behind city rivals and defending champions Celtic – and a further two behind leaders Heart of Midlothian.

They also failed to qualify for the Champions League and have lost both of their Europa League matches so far.