Replacing Steven Gerrard isn’t going to be an easy task, nor is it one that Ross Wilson will take lightly with character and resilience as high on the list of essential requirements as coaching experience.
One potential candidate could come from Scotland’s lower leagues, if all goes to plan and one of the country’s most promising coaches gets his way.
Kevin Thomson left the security of Auchenhowie and a job in charge of Rangers B team to replace former midfield partner Barry Ferguson at Kelty Hearts in what is his first senior role as a manager and, speaking to The Daily Record, he has revealed that he sees it as the first step back to where he feels he belongs:
“It was a tough decision to leave Rangers.
“The relationship I had with the players, club, board and the manager meant it was difficult.
“I weighed it all up and decided that if I am going to go on a journey that leads me to where I want to be one day, then I wasn’t sure I could get there by continuing to do the role I was doing at Rangers.
“I had to take the plunge and I would like to think the door will always be open for me to go back.“I am not saying there will always be a job there for me but it’s a club that has always looked after me.”
Thomson, then reflects on when he left Rangers as a player only to have an injury blighted spell at Middlesbrough:
“Hopefully this time, it will work out for me and you never know, I might be back one day.
“That’s my ambition. I was like that as a player. I wanted to play at the highest level I possibly could, to win trophies and work with the best players and under the best managers.
“I achieved all that at Rangers. I’m the same as a manager. I want to work with the best players and in the top leagues.”
You certainly wouldn’t bet against Thomson returning one day such is his drive and determination, we’ve already seen from his time with the academy that he demands similar standards to that of Gerrard on a daily basis and will never accept second best.
Will Alfredo Morelos be sold this summer?
Yes
No
He’s got a long way to go yet but, if he is successful, there would be few more popular appointments – if he can prove that he deserves the opportunity.