Alex McLeish has revealed that Rangers never contacted him in their extensive search to replace Pedro Caixinha as manager.
The Light Blues brought an end to their two-month pursuit of a permanent boss this week by appointing Graeme Murty until the end of the season after failing to prise Derek McInnes from Aberdeen.
McLeish, who held the reins at Ibrox for five years between 2001 and 2006 and steered the team to a domestic treble in his second season, was widely touted as one of the favourites to take over from Caixinha and at one point bookmakers even suspended betting on him landing the post.
Speaking to the BBC Sport website, McLeish said: “Rangers, no, I wasn’t contacted. But at the moment, it’s not a job that would suit me. I’ve got some plans for other things. I’ve still got a lot to give the game.”
Caretaker boss Murty, who was in charge of the club’s Under-20s before his stint in charge, has led the side to six wins and four losses so far.
They currently sit in third in the Premiership, trailing Aberdeen by three points and leaders Celtic by a hefty 11 points at Christmas.
OPINION
Rangers were right to avoid McLeish. It rarely works out in football when managers return for a second spell at a club close to their heart, and the club were correct in setting their sights on a younger man. Nevertheless, former youth coach Murty looks a square peg in a round hole. He is the cheap and available option, but for a club of Rangers’ prestige and history, a fudge that is unlikely to yield the success for which supporters yearn.