Carlos Bocanegra will NOT be joining Rangers as the club's new sporting director.

The American, who captained Rangers under Ally McCoist in the 2011/12 season, will remain with MLS side Atlanta United where he is vice president.

It's understood 44-year-old Bocanegra interviewed for the position but has now been ruled out of the running.

Another former player, Christian Nerlinger has also been linked but sources within the club strongly refute he's ever been a candidate.

Nerlinger now runs an agency in his native Germany but was sporting director at Bayern Munich from 2009 to 2012.

It's understood that a headhunting agency is sourcing candidates for the job, with many individuals spoken to as part of a comprehensive search.

While a number of candidates have been identified, Rangers are some way off from making a final decision on who will join Michael Beale at the top of the club's football food chain.

Whoever takes over the role will have an adapted set of responsibilities from those enjoyed by Ross Wilson who moved on to Nottingham Forest towards the end of last season.

Beale is very keen to take a much more proactive role in recruitment in comparison with previous boss Giovanni van Bronckhorst and has been operating as a defacto sporting director since Wilson's departure.

However, the new hire will continue to work pulling together the academy, women's team, training centre and the crucial administration around of the first team set-up.