Former English FA managing director Adrian Bevington has outlined the key requirements for the next Rangers CEO.

The experienced operator - who is now running a German football agency - appeared on Go Radio's Football Show to discuss the position as Rangers look to replace James Bisgrove. St Mirren vice-chairman Jim Gillespie is thought to be the frontrunner for the job.

Bevington - who has also worked as head of recruitment operations at Middlesbrough and held roles with Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa - insisted a high calibre candidate capable of leading from the front with key contacts at UEFA and other clubs as well as football industry and transfer dealings experience is essential at Ibrox. 

The former high-ranking English FA employee has not hidden his desire to work in Scottish football in the future but stopped short of putting himself forward for the position.

"It has been interesting watching the performance, with everything that is being discussed, of Rangers where there is so much noise and news around the club on so many levels," said Bevington.


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Asked whether he could be convinced to take the high-pressure role at Rangers, he said: "Well, I have got a very good job at the moment with a leading German football agency that I have been doing for two years.

"Look, Scottish football I have made no secret over the many years that I would at some point in my career always be interested in working in Scotland.

"I think it is an incredibly passionate football country and I've got a great deal of respect for the game there because of the fan base. You have got so much to build on there.

"Rangers as a football club, is such a huge football institution, it's a global club.

"Obviously, they are not happy with the situation they are in at the moment, the fans are definitely not happy.

"I have been following it very, very closely. Clearly, they were well beaten at the weekend by a very strong Celtic team. There is a lot of pressure flying around there.

"What I would say, is whoever the chief executive is going to be for Rangers has got to be someone who can show real leadership, is a good communicator, got to have a real understanding of the game and the industry, knowledge of the transfer market.

"Yes, they have got to be commercially strong to increase the revenues but ultimately I think they have got to have football industry nous and a real common sense and the ability to work relationships.

"If you have got all of that you've got a chance but it is still a very demanding, difficult job for whoever that person may be."

"I think with a club like Rangers with the stature that they have in the game - and even though they are going through a challenging period at this time - Rangers Football Club should be able to attract someone who has that stature and the ability to lead from the front but also have a real good understanding of how the industry works and a great network of contacts and relationships with people right throughout the game in Scotland but also at UEFA, the European Club Association.  

"There are people within Celtic who have some of those relationships already and Rangers should be expecting similar."