Ever since suffering an ACL injury late last year Steven Davis, a Rangers legend and the UK’s most-capped international, has endured the novel concept of life out of the limelight.

On Sunday evening, that all changed. Rangers announced that Michael Beale had been dismissed as the club’s manager and Davis would replace him on an interim basis. The 38-year-old will lead a team consisting of former players Alex Rae and Steven Smith, goalkeeping coach Colin Stewart and B team coach Brian Gilmour.

In a statement on the club’s website, chairman John Bennett insisted that the management team will “remain in charge for as long as it takes to make the right appointment”. With two games to come against Aris Limassol and St Mirren before an international break, this next appointment is one the club cannot and will not rush. In the meantime, they’ve picked Davis as their figurehead.

“I feel very honoured. The call came out of the blue, I certainly wasn’t expecting it,” Davis said speaking publicly about his appointment for the first time.

“Obviously it’s not a position we’d like to be in, we’re disappointed with where we’re at at this minute in time. But I’m looking forward to the challenge.”

“It’s been a really crazy [24 hours]. I got the phone call late last night to let me know Michael and his staff were leaving. We then had a chat and the club wanted me to come in and lead the team, alongside Alex, Steven and Brian.

“To be honest, management is something I have considered for further down the line. I didn’t expect to get this opportunity - it didn’t even cross my mind. But it was an opportunity I just couldn’t turn down.”

Davis, someone with no managerial experience, has been handed the reigns temporarily because of his status. From the heavy heights of an optimistic summer, Rangers find themselves seven points behind in the league after seven matches. Ibrox has reached a level of toxicity after recent home games not witnessed in a number of years. Davis is a unanimously popular figure that, on a temporary basis, the board hopes supporters can rally behind.

While not experienced as a manager, the midfielder is more than qualified as a leader. A long-term captain of his country for whom he’s turned out 140 times and an individual who knows exactly what life at Ibrox is about. Having played alongside the majority of his teammates, Davis should be well-positioned to rekindle their form.

READ MORE: We backed Beale but he failed, the board MUST get next appointment right

“I would just like to try and repay the trust the club have shown in putting me in this position,” Davis continued, speaking to RangersTV.

‘Ultimately you have to be your own person but of course, I worked with some incredible managers in my career. Walter, at this club, it was a great honour to play under him for so many years and have the relationship I had with him.

“At Southampton, I played under some great managers as well in Mauricio Pochettino and Ronald Koeman. Internationally, with Michael O’Neill, whom I have a very close relationship with.

“I’ve been fortunate to play under a number of really good managers and pick up a lot of things from them as well over the years. I’ll try and implement some of those things they probably showed me, but it’s a short-term approach at this minute in time.

“I just want to try and get results back in place where we’d like them to be. It’s going to be a joint effort between myself and the rest of the staff.

“You want to play football in a certain way but ultimately you have to get results. That’s first and foremost at a club like Rangers. I just want to try and get some pride back in terms of how we play and try to get the boys' confidence back as well.”

All of Davis' interim backroom team have played for or worked for Rangers. With the short-term need for stabilisation clear, it’s a group that understands the expectations they’re working under.

“Of course [their experience will be vital]. This is all relatively new to me as much experience as I have playing and being around things, it’s a different viewpoint now,” Davis added.

“I’ll be leaning heavily on the likes of Alex, Steven, Colin Stewart as well, Brian Gilmour. It’s going to be a joint effort from all the staff.

“I know exactly what every player is capable of, the quality they’ve got and what their strengths are. Hopefully, I can set up the team along with the staff in a way that will let them flourish.

“I have good relationships with everybody. I’ve got respect for every player in that dressing room and belief for them and it’s important to try and give them the tools to perform to the best of their ability. I believe we can go on and start building something.”

Rangers face Aris in Cyrpus this Thursday before playing St Mirren in Paisley. The international break will offer time for injured players to recover, a break from matches and perhaps an opportunity for Davis himself to take stock.

READ MORE: Michael Beale's Rangers sacking: What went wrong? - Joshua Barrie

“We have good staff here and obviously they have a lot of detail on the opposition. We spent a period this morning going through that and putting some things together to try to help the team,” he added.

“To be honest my phone’s been blowing up as you can imagine, I’ve not really had the chance to look at it too much.

“It has been a bit of a whirlwind, I was straight up here and into the training ground this morning and trying to get to work on preparation for the game on Thursday so I haven’t had the chance to sit back and think about anything. It has been full steam ahead but I am sure I will get that opportunity.

“Everyone knows what the club means to me and my approach is just going to be the same as it’s been with me as a player throughout my time at the club. I’ll give it my best and hopefully that’s good enough.”