RANGERS remain confident Pedro Caixinha’s appointment as the club’s new manager will not be derailed by the news Ross Wilson has knocked back to the chance to become director of football.
The Southampton head of recruitment had originally been offered the new position with the Ibrox club two weeks ago but an answer from the Scot only arrived yesterday.
Since Mark Warburton’s departure last month, along with assistant Davie Weir and recruitment chief Frank McParland, the Glasgow club launched a two-pronged recruitment drive as they sought both a first-team head coach and a director of football.
Read more: From Doha to Govan: Qatar football expert on Pedro Caixinha and Rangers
While Caixinha was Rangers’ top candidate to take over from Warburton, Wilson was targeted early on for the other post at Ibrox.
Caixinha is expected to arrive in Glasgow over the coming days as the board attempt to secure the services of the Portuguese who is currently in charge of Qatar Stars League side Al Gharafa. Talks with the 43-year-old have been on-going and he has already been told the job is his.
While the former Santos manager’s arrival looks to be drawing ever closer, the same cannot be said for Wilson as Rangers continued to wait for an answer on whether or not the Scot wishes to swap St Mary’s for Ibrox after the 34-year-old asked for more time to consider their offer.
The answer eventually arrived yesterday with Rangers expected to now turn their attention towards former Tottenham Hotspur chief Paul Mitchell.
However, Herald Sport understands the Rangers board are content to push on with Caixinha’s acquisition and put the recruitment of a director of football on the back burner. Securing the services of a new head coach has always been the priority for the club’s hierarchy.
Read more: From Doha to Govan: Qatar football expert on Pedro Caixinha and Rangers
Caixinha is aware of the club’s intentions to employ a director of football, and their interest in Wilson. But, the latter is neither seen as a deal maker or breaker.
Under the new planned regime, Caixinha would still have a huge say in all on-field matters, the coaching and backroom set-up, and recruitment. The remit of the other position would focus on overseeing the implementation of the off-field football strategy, including the development of a scouting network, and academy progression.
Talks are still ongoing regarding bringing in Rangers’ top candidate for the head coach’s job to Ibrox, who would currently need to pay in the region of £300,000 to buy himself out of his £2m contract he signed with Al Gharafa in December 2015.
Meanwhile, Aberdeen chairman Stewart Milne has said he would discourage Rangers to come in for manager Derek McInnes if the deal to bring Caixinha to Scotland fell through. However, he refused to say the Pittodrie club would knock back an approach from their Premiership rivals if an advance was made.
Read more: From Doha to Govan: Qatar football expert on Pedro Caixinha and Rangers
He said: “Obviously we would have to discuss it with Derek but we certainly wouldn’t give any encouragement.
“I have said on many occasions that he is an integral part of everything we have set out to do at this football club. When Derek took on the job he didn’t want to just come here and deliver one trophy. He has started the job and is making fantastic progress.”
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