With Mark Warburton adamant that he didn’t walk away the ‘race’ is on to find the next manager at Ibrox.
A host of names have already emerged, some that you could have set your watch on appearing plus the utterly ridiculous- coaches with good experience and prospects.
With a board that will apply the darkest of dark arts to get their way it’ll be a very desperate man that is next up the marble staircase to sit in the manager’s chair once filled by Paul Le Guen, Ally McCoist, Davie White, Stuart McCall and John Greig.
Soft loans have propped up the empire of absent landlord Dave King with income almost solely dependent on fooling the punters through the turnstiles with tales of sorting out Celtic.
Talking of whom there is the small matter of a 27 point gap between the city rivals with the less than appealing prospect of visiting the champions elect in four weeks time.
Until the appointment there is bound to be as much hilarity as we’ve enjoyed since Friday evening’s PR disaster.
BILLY DAVIES
The early favourite and no doubting that he is a Right Rangers Man.
As a player he failed to make the grade in the horrendous Rangers (IL) team managed by John Greig but had a decent career at Dunfermline, Motherwell and St Mirren.
In management he has made a career out of falling out with directors and the media, often with hilarious results.
Currently unemployed he wouldn’t be an expensive recruit and could call on Tommy Sheridan or Gordon Dalziel to act as his number two.
FRANK DE BOER
What planet are these people on!
How likely is a man that has recently managed Ajax and Inter Milan to take a training session that involves Andy Halliday and Joey Garder?
Frank joined his brother Ronald, some Celtic fans may recall a song about the brothers, at Ibrox in 2004 as he proved his fitness for Euro 2004 and is likely to find a decent continental job in the next six months.
JIMMY CALDERWOOD
The definition of a true blue still fondly remembered for his Dunfermline side of May 2003.
Jimmy has been out of management for a number of years and makes a media appearance every six months to tout for a job.
He admitted on radio that he thought he was Ibrox bound when Dave Murray recruited him as Dunfermline manager for a long term project.
GIO VAN BRONCKHORST
Another highly unlikely candidate but as a former player under Dick Advocaat he’ll know what it means to be a Ranger (and gain success with a squad financially doped to the hilt)
After Ibrox he had successful spells at Arsenal and Barcelona as well as gaining 100 international caps.
As manager of Feyenoord who are leading the Dutch league he’ll have his career looking towards areas other than Govan.
ALEX MCLEISH
Big Eck is gaggin for a job and is a true true blue.
With a personal EBT payment plan for £1.5m he recruited a squad of players on a similar basis and cheated his way to a number of trophies after replacing Dick Advocaat.
Asked about being stripped of titles from the EBT years the former Birmingham and Villa manager warned that ‘he’d give them a right hand’.
HARRY REDKNAPP
Harry is a big time fan of clubs from Ibrox and has spoken warmly of the two clubs.
His last job was in charge of QPR but after a convenient hip operation he stepped down to concentrate on his various media interests.
Harry would be looking for a large transfer budget and has a great working relationship with a number of agents which would replace Frank McParland’s scouting network.
ALEX RAE
Without doubt a true blue and serial management failure- ask any St Mirren man.
Rae was recruited on an expensive EBT but claimed that he’d have signed any way.
Incredibly after being binned by St Mirren earlier this season he walked into a gig with the Scotland u-19 side- clearly someone with friends in high places.
BRIAN LAUDRUP
A true blue, legend of 9-in-a-row but failed to turn up the following season.
No real coaching success or experience but would be able to shift season tickets and bring a warm glow to most supporters.
After that who knows but selling season tickets to the punters with a 9-in-a-row legend shouldn’t be too difficult for the creators on #goingfor55
TOMMY WRIGHT
The common sense candidate which probably rules out the current St Johnstone boss.
He’s probably recognised as the best value for money manager in Scotland. If living within their means and realism took on at Ibrox Tommy is yer man but the people had no patience for Paul le Guen so a five year plan wouldn’t go down well with 10-in-a-row parties across the city.
FRANK LAMPARD
Was the only Chelsea fan at the 2008 UEFA Cup Final that didn’t tarnish the good name of Rangers (IL).
Recently retired from playing he is looking for a coaching opportunity and would jump at the chance to work with Holty and Waggers.
Like Warbo he could commute from London with the bonus of not having to remind everyone that he is a former city trader to mask his lack of management experience.