Shanghai Port executives are now informed of Rangers’ determination to appoint Kevin Muscat and have reportedly begun the process of identifying his replacement in China.
Rangers are closing in on naming Muscat as the successor to Russell Martin in the Ibrox dugout after the latter was dismissed a week and a half ago following a disastrous start to the campaign.
The Light Blues currently sit eighth in the Scottish Premiership with only one victory from seven matches and are joint-bottom of the Europa League group stage, having lost both of their fixtures so far.
Muscat’s 2025 has been the complete opposite of Rangers’, with Shanghai Port sitting two points clear at the top of the Chinese Super League table with four matches remaining.
However, Shanghai Port’s push for a third consecutive league title means Muscat would be unavailable until late November, when the Chinese Super League season concludes.
Rangers must pay £1.5m compensation to secure Kevin Muscat:
Neil McCann is now expected to take temporary charge of Rangers, beginning with their Scottish Premiership encounter against Dundee United this Saturday.
Muscat is being prepared to link up with the Gers once Shanghai Port’s league campaign wraps up on 22 November.
According to the Daily Record, Rangers’ hierarchy have opened contract discussions with Muscat, who previously represented the club during the treble-winning 2002–03 season.
It’s believed that the Australian has taken a “huge step” toward becoming the next permanent Gers manager, but completing his move from China would require a £1.5 million payment to Shanghai Port, who’ve now started searching for his successor.
Based on statistics from Sofascore, Muscat boasts a 70.1 percent win rate with Shanghai Port, averaging an impressive 2.52 goals per game.
Potential additions to the new Ibrox backroom staff:
The current plan appears to be for McCann to oversee the team for the next few weeks while Muscat finishes his duties in China with Shanghai Port.
He is then expected to join Muscat’s coaching unit and assume a similar position to the one he held alongside Barry Ferguson during his interim tenure last season.
Under-19s coach Stevie Smith has been handling first-team training at Auchenhowie while the club finalises its managerial appointment, but he’s anticipated to revert to his youth coaching responsibilities once a permanent boss is confirmed.
The Daily Record further reports that if Danny Rohl is chosen over Muscat, former Gers midfielder Steven Davis is a candidate to return to Govan, alongside ex-Ibrox captain Lee Wallace.