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Rangers are closing in on the appointment of Kevin Muscat as the club’s new head coach - but he could miss up to eight games before he finally takes charge of the team.
Daily Mail Sport understands that personal terms have been agreed with the Australian after positive talks over the past 48 hours.
Muscat is currently in charge of Shanghai Port in China, and Rangers are now working towards agreeing what is likely to be a seven-figure compensation package for the 52-year-old.
In what has turned into a saga in their hunt for a new boss, however, Muscat won’t be able to take immediate charge of Rangers.
It’s understood that he has already expressed a clear desire to see out the remainder of this season’s fixtures in the Chinese Super League as Shanghai Port look to defend their title.
That could take another five weeks, with the domestic season there running until November 22.
Kevin Muscat is on the verge of a deal with Rangers but it could be another five weeks before he can take charge
It means Muscat could miss up to eight matches with Rangers until then.
With Shanghai Port currently holding a two-point lead at the top of the table with four games remaining, there is a chance they could wrap up the title before that date.
But, either way, Rangers will have to move forward with an interim management team until Muscat eventually arrives in Glasgow.
Under-19s coach Steven Smith will take charge of the team for Saturday’s Premiership clash with Dundee United at Ibrox.
It’s believed that a verbal agreement is in place with Neil McCann to come in once an agreement with Muscat is finalised.
McCann would effectively serve as interim manager, before then becoming Muscat’s assistant manager when he arrives.
The pair were team-mates at Ibrox just over 20 years ago, and it’s thought that Muscat had already lined up McCann as his assistant when he was in the running for the job a couple of years ago.
The Aussie firebrand had been considered prior to the appointment of Philippe Clement, but has now emerged as the last man standing in the club’s efforts to replace Russell Martin.
After Steven Gerrard and Danny Rohl both pulled out, that cleared the path for Muscat to return to the club with whom he won a Treble in 2003.
Kevin Muscat became the frontrunner for Rangers job after Danny Rohl, above, pulled out
Muscat has followed a similar career path to former Celtic and Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou
Muscat has followed a similar career path similar to Ange Postecoglou, having won league titles in Australia, Japan and China.
But Mark Bosnich, the former Australia, Manchester United and Aston Villa goalkeeper, believes it would be incorrect to expect Muscat to simply be a clone of former Celtic and Spurs boss Postecoglou.
Speaking to Sky Sports, Bosnich said of his former international team-mate: ‘A lot of people remember him as a player, he was a bit of a firebrand, to put it plainly.
‘As a manager, he’s a little bit opposite to that, would you believe. Often, that happens if you go through history.
‘He was a disciple of Ange Postecoglou when he was starting out his managerial career, but he’s a little bit different. I think he’s much more adaptable than Ange.
‘He’s willing to basically forsake a lot of his playing principles to make sure that he gets a result.
‘He’s had a good time in Japan, he’s had a good time in China, he’s had a great time here in Australia, but in Scotland it will be different and Rangers need to get back to where they should be.
‘They’ve obviously had a very tough time but, with his old playing connection there, and the fact that he really wants to prove himself, this would be a good opportunity for him and it would be a good choice for the club.’
