Rangers making a move for Hearts boss Derek McInnes if Danny Rohl leaves for Red Bull Salzburg would be a “no-brainer”, according to BBC Scotland chief sports writer Tom English.
The Ibrox club have reportedly asked Hearts for permission to speak to McInnes as Rohl seemingly edges closer to an Ibrox exit.
Speaking on BBC Sportsound, English said: “If Rangers are looking for a manager, Derek McInnes is a no-brainer. I think it’s an obvious call.
“He moved to Hearts and almost won the league in his first season. He’s very experienced, a gnarled pro in Scotland, there’s nothing he doesn’t know about this league. His worth ethic is through the roof.
“He would be a very good fit for Rangers. They will spend money this summer and I just think it makes sense.
“I don’t think Jamestown Analytics – who are obviously hugely influential at Hearts – would shed any tears because they’re quite a clinical operation. If a player or manager leaves it’s, right, who’s next? They’re very focused and don’t dwell on people coming and going.”
Former Hearts captain and manager Craig Levein believes an approach from Rangers would leave McInnes with a “very difficult decision”.
“I think the fact Hearts have been elevated by Tony Bloom’s arrival – and the manager has that backing – it would be a very difficult decision for Derek to leave and go to Ibrox,” Levein said.
“He’s building a really good team at Hearts and last season was the closest any non-Old Firm team has come to winning the league in 40 years.
“He seems happy where he is and that’s quite an important thing. For me, this isn’t as cut and dried as it might have been two or three years ago. I think there’s more for Derek to mull over.”
Former Hearts striker Darren Jackson has questioned whether McInnes would reject Rangers again, having turned down the job in 2017 when at Aberdeen.
“He’s obviously a Rangers man and that pull got Lawrence Shankland, who wanted to play for his boyhood heroes,” said Jackson.
“The expectations next season at Hearts are through the roof. Third won’t be good enough – because of what’s happened this year – so the pressure becomes a lot more.”
[BBC]
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