The Australian is the clear frontrunner for the hot seat after Danny Rohl pulled out of the running
Kevin Muscat, head coach of Shanghai Port(Image: VCG via Getty Images)
Shanghai Port boss Kevin Muscat reportedly faces two major hurdles before arriving in the Ibrox hot seat.
Record Sport revealed that Muscat is inching closer to winning the race to replace Russell Martin in the Ibrox hot seat.
Former Sheffield Wednesday boss Danny Rohl impressed Andrew Cavenagh and Paraag Marathe of 49ers Enterprises during talks last week – but has now pulled out of the running.
Former Light Blues Treble-winner Muscat has entered into contract negotiations with the club’s American owners – with Neil McCann in the frame to step into the dugout on an interim basis.
But with the path clear for Muscat to land the job – having previously been turned down in favour of Philippe Clement in 2023 – The Rangers Review report that a move to Ibrox has been “complicated” by his position in China.
It is claimed that Rangers face the prospect of paying a seven-figure compensation package to allow him to leave Shanghai behind as he remains under contract with the club.
Reports in China suggest the boss has a deal at Port until December 2026 on a deal that currently sees him earn between £1.6million and £2million.
Record Sport understands the Glasgow giants would have to pay out a compensation bill of around £1.5m in order to terminate that deal – while Port have already started shaping a contingency plan should the boss depart.
Furthermore, Muscat will only be allowed to leave his the defending champions once back-to-back Chinese Super League crowns have been secured.
Muscat is four league fixtures away from the end of the campaign with dates against Qingdao Hainiu, Shandong Taishan, Zhejiang, and Dalian Zhixing in the calendar.
Port’s title rivals Chengdu Rongcheng and Shanghai Shenhua site two and three points respectively behind the table-toppers.
In theory, the title could be sealed by October 26 but that would require both challengers to lose their next two games while Muscat leads Port to back-to-back victories.
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