Michael Beale has talked up Steven Davis as a future Rangers manager - but believes the veteran midfielder still has a role to play in his Ibrox regime.
The Northern Ireland international has been ruled out for the rest of the season after sustaining a knee injury in training.
Davis, who will turn 38 on January 1, is set to go under the knife early in the New Year and, afterwards, Beale will give him time to consider his next steps.
The Rangers boss is confident he could continue playing, but also sees a path into management if he wants to call an end to his playing career.
Beale says the club "should have a manager in waiting" on the staff, but he knows Rangers won't be the only ones coveting Davis' services as a coach.
"Yeah, certainly, with our relationship," Beale replied when asked if there could be a role for him in the backroom. "I wouldn’t say we are best friends but there is a lot of respect with how well we have worked together in the past and he’s got a good eye for the game.
READ MORE: Michael Beale on Rangers midfield transfer search ahead of January
"I’m sure Northern Ireland have also got their eye on Steven in the future. And I think it would be nice to have a future Rangers manager on the staff one day. Over the last couple of years the club has seen a lot of staff leaving the building with managers and I always think it is nice you should have a manager in waiting. Whether he is the next manager, or whether he is just on the road to being it, I think succession planning for the club, that would be ideal.
"I think there are quite a few senior players, and ex-players, with their eye on this job in the future. Steven has the manner of someone who is very thoughtful, quiet. He doesn’t speak unless he needs to speak, so when he does speak people tend to listen. I think Steven, if he wanted to go down the manager route, any of the clubs he played at previously would help him as well. So we are not the only ones that love Steven Davis, but we do love him here."
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