Rangers will step up the search for their new boss in the coming days as John Bennett and James Bisgrove prepare to put the prospective candidates through their final interviews in London.

The Ibrox hierarchy have been on the hunt for Michael Beale’s successor after making the call to sack the Englishman last weekend following the Premiership defeat to Aberdeen.

A host of names were immediately linked with the position in the aftermath of Beale’s exit and Rangers have spent recent days narrowing down their list of potential appointments.

The Rangers Review revealed on Friday evening that former Chelsea and Derby County gaffer Frank Lampard would not be making the move across the border despite being one of the initial front-runners and a favourite with the bookmakers.

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Rangers have whittled down their shortlist to a handful of prime targets and chairman Bennett and Bisgrove, the chief executive officer, will now spend the coming days interviewing those that have made the cut to this stage of the process.

Former Ibrox defender Kevin Muscat, Philippe Clement, a title winner in Belgium with Club Brugge and Genk, and Oliver Glasner, who guided Eintracht Frankfurt to victory over Rangers in the Europa League final have all been put forward as potential candidates.

AZ Alkmaar boss Pascal Jansen distanced himself from a move to Ibrox last week and sources have categorically dismissed the prospect of the likes of Billy Davies, Ryan Lowe or Scott Parker being in the running.

Bisgrove has been overseeing the search for Beale’s successor and he will now be joined by Bennett in the capital before a preferred candidate is put to the Ibrox board and investors for approval.

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Bennett vowed to take as long as was required to ensure Rangers hired the right man for the job and the international break allowed the club time to assess their options as Steven Davis was asked to take the side during the defeat to Aris on Thursday evening and the Premiership win over St Mirren.

Davis admitted in the aftermath of the 3-0 success on Sunday that he wasn’t sure what the future held for him in the dugout but it is likely that Rangers will have their new boss in place before the visit of Hibernian in their next league encounter.