Kevin Muscat’s expected move to Scottish giants Rangers collapses

Rangers’ pursuit of former Melbourne Victory boss Kevin Muscat has hit a dramatic roadblock just weeks before his expected arrival in Scotland.

Kevin Muscat won’t be taking charge of Rangers. Picture: Kenta Harada/Getty Images

Former Melbourne Victory coach Kevin Muscat’s mooted move to Scottish giants Rangers is reportedly off.

Muscat, who twice guided the Victory to A-League championships and has also led Yokohama F. Marinos (Japan) and Shanghai Port (China) to title wins, had been expected to take charge of Rangers after the completion of Port’s Chinese Super League campaign next month.

However, according to the Daily Record, the move has collapsed after talks between Muscat, Rangers chief executive Patrick Stewart, and the club’s sporting director, Kevin Thelwell, stalled.

There were reported suggestions that discussions broke down due to Muscat not agreeing with Rangers’ “recruitment model” and the restrictions it would place on him.

Kevin Muscat’s expected move to Rangers has reportedly collapsed. Picture: Han Myung-Gu/Getty Images

The Rangers job became vacant after manager Russell Martin was sacked on October 5 following the club’s poor start the Scottish Premiership season.

Muscat, who has another year to run on his Port contract, is close to securing back-to-back title wins with the Shanghai club, who tops the Chinese Super League ladder by two points from Chengdu Rongcheng with three rounds remaining.

Port’s next game is an AFC Champions League Elite home clash on Tuesday night against Japanese club Machida Zelvia, whose squad includes veteran Socceroos striker Mitch Duke.

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