Derek McInnes is the strong odds favourite to become the next permanent Rangers manager following a shift in the bookmakers’ prices.
SkyBet priced McInnes as the odds-on frontrunner at 2/7 on Friday afternoon as he soared ahead of other candidates in the betting race to take over the Ibrox dugout.
Former Middlesbrough boss Aitor Karanka (5/1) is now the second favourite to replace Pedro Caixinha, followed by ex-Ibrox manager Alex McLeish (8/1) and current caretaker Graeme Murty (9/1).
Aberdeen manager McInnes, 46, was a relatively distant second favourite (5/2) at the start of this week after revealing last Friday that he will be staying at Pittodrie.
McInnes revealed at his press briefing, as quoted by the Scottish Sun, that he had no intentions of leaving Aberdeen following clear the air talks with club chairman Stewart Milne.
But there was a new twist on Thursday at the Rangers AGM, when chairman Dave King revealed, as reported by the Sky Sports Scotland Twitter account, that a number of shortlisted candidates include those currently under contract.
RANGERS AGM LATEST
Dave King: “The search for Pedro’s replacement has been thorough… shortlisted candidates include those currently under contract… there should be something to report on this shortly”— Sky Sports Scotland (@ScotlandSky) November 30, 2017
King did not divulge any names, or further details, but it appears the club are finally close to finding a successor to Caixinha.
OPINION
Could Rangers’ long and painful search for a new manager be about to come to an end? Finally? King suggests that is the case, although it is difficult to ascertain who the appointment will be. It appears fairly certain McLeish will not be heading for the dugout, and McInnes was quite emphatic last Friday he is staying put. However, did King drop a subtle hint about Aberdeen boss McInnes when he stated that the shortlisted candidates included “those currently under contract”? In this game of bluff and double bluff, it’s best not to rule out McInnes quite yet, as the fat lady prepares to clear her throat.