ALEX MCLEISH reckons the biggest challenge for the next Rangers manager will be when the Ibrox club go up against Aberdeen in the League Cup semi-finals.

The Govan side are heading to Hampden on January 15 as they aim to book a spot in the showpiece final.

McLeish has explained how the cup competitions could become important for Rangers - if the league title slips away from their grasp.

He told the Daily Record: "There's a game against Aberdeen in the League Cup semis coming up on January 15 that's now a huge match, probably bigger than the Old Firm game a couple of weeks before.

"Winning that will be the new manager's mission."

McLeish was in a similar position when he took over as boss back in 2001.

He continued: "I said to myself, I must at least win a cup this season to justify David Murray and Dick Advocaat choosing me and my staff for this massive opportunity.

"Thankfully I managed to do that by winning both cups and these competitions will be just as big for whoever comes in.

"That night at Hampden was absolutely crucial for me in terms of my relationship with the team and the supporters.

"Celtic won the league but we managed to win the Scottish Cup at the end of the season with another amazing day at Hampden when Peter Lovenkrands scored the winner in extra-time.

"That set us up brilliantly for the next season when we won the treble. That's exactly why the new man has to take these two cups seriously when he comes in."

Meanwhile, Livingston manager David Martindale believes QPR boss Michael Beale would be “a great fit” for the Rangers vacancy.

The 42-year-old, who was an influential former coach at Ibrox under Steven Gerrard, has emerged as the favourite to succeed Giovanni van Bronckhorst, who was sacked on Monday after a year at the helm.

Beale left his role as assistant at Aston Villa to go out on his own at Loftus Road in the summer and his team currently sit seventh in the English Championship. Martindale, who dismissed himself as a contender for the role, believes the Englishman would be a logical appointment.

“I don’t want to speak out of turn because it’s not my place to talk about other clubs and other managers but I think Michael would be a great fit for Rangers,” said Martindale after he was named Glen’s Premiership manager of the month for November.

“That’s up to Michael Beale and Rangers Football Club, not David Martindale.

“Would that be a good fit? Probably but I don’t know more than you do.

“I’m a big advocate for British managers. I think someone with a knowledge of British football (is preferable).

“It’s easy to be a bit more clever and go down the foreign route, and I think Ange Postecoglou has been a fantastic signing for Celtic, but I think there’s a correlation between Australian and British football culture.

“Sometimes I think you can bring a foreign coach in and it can be difficult. There’s a lot of talent in the UK market, though I am slightly biased being a Scottish manager.

“Would I like to see Michael get the job over a foreign manager? Yes, I would, but that’s just my personal preference. I think there’s a lot of talent in Scotland. I see Sean Dyche has been linked and he’s another fantastic talent.

“I like to see progression within the British game and I think there’s a lot to be said for hiring someone with knowledge of the players and knowledge of Scottish football.”

READ MORE: