Derek McInnes is next Rangers boss favourite but here’s why he’d snub job again.
McInnes has been linked with an Ibrox return as the gaffer once before but Ayrshire may as well be a million miles from Govan right now
If Philippe Clement is fired, Kilmarnock manager Derek McInnes is the presumed favorite to take over at Rangers, though it is unclear if he would desire the position.
McInnes has been positioned as the front-runner to succeed Clement in the hot seat as Rangers prepare for a possible managerial search once more should he be released from his Ibrox responsibilities. However, since he rejected their prior attempts to persuade him to leave Kilmarnock for Govan, not much has changed at the club.
After Pedro Caixinha was fired, Rangers searched for a new manager in late 2017, with Graeme Murty serving as temporary manager. Derek McInnes, the manager of Aberdeen at the time, was chosen by the Ibrox leadership as the person who would help the Govan team turn things around. Although he claimed to have “had a lot to consider,” he ultimately rejected the approach from his previous team and remained with the Dons after taking his time making a decision.
Rangers were having trouble on the field and in turmoil off it at the time. Following a 1-1 home draw with Kilmarnock, which left Rangers fourth in the top flight, the board decided to fire Caixinha, which is somewhat ironic now considering Philippe Clement’s future. Additionally, they had just lost to Motherwell at Hampden in the League Cup semi-final a few days earlier.
That circumstance is also a mirror reflection of the current one. The Gers do not have a chairman, CEO, academy head, or director of football. Would an accomplished manager like Derek McInnes want to enter the high-pressure environment of the Rangers position without having a firm idea of who he will be dealing with? In the absence of a recognizable footballing structure?
It’s not always the case that the grass is greener—or, in this instance, bluer.
Many Killie supporters would have to hesitate for a moment if you asked them who they think has been a better manager between McInnes and the current Scotland manager, but Steve Clarke lifted Killie out of the Scottish Premiership’s gloom and created something remarkable at Rugby Park.
He has a contract that runs until the summer of 2027, so if Killie were to lose him, a sizable payment would have to be paid.
He may have carried Killie as far as he can, according to some; a fresh challenge or a different club perspective would entice him. But with the team’s on-field fortunes starting to improve this season, many in Ayrshire would consider him practically immortal if he were to finish in fourth place and play in Europe once more. If he stays and keeps up his fantastic work, he has the opportunity to solidify his reputation as one of the finest Killie managers ever.
In East Ayrshire, they also adore him. He joined them when they were in fourth place in the Scottish Championship, but he won the league and immediately put them back in the big time. He even outperformed Clarke by leading them to a League Cup semi-final at Hampden, where they closely defeated Celtic.
Despite what the market seems to indicate, Rangers supporters might not be as fond of him. His style of play is perfect for Killie since they are obstinate and tenacious while yet having a respectable amount of offensive potential. However, he would need to dominate possession and be on the offensive for 89 of the 90 minutes at Ibrox.
Everything will be a little better for Rangers again if Clement goes on to destroy Motherwell. However, if he does go, McInnes won’t be in the Ibrox dugout for very long.
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