Christian Nerlinger declines Rangers sporting director offer after 'great honour' of Ross Wilson replacement approach

Christian Nerlinger has knocked back the chance to become Rangers’ new sporting director.

The Ibrox club are on the hunt after Ross Wilson left to take up the role of chief football officer at Nottingham Forest. That means Michael Beale will take up his duties until the Gers board identifies and appoints a successor. Former Light Blues star Nerlinger fit the bill for many fans given his experience with German giants Bayern Munich as well as his previous association with the Glasgow club.

However, the 50-year-old has turned down a return to Govan after claiming the club approached him about the possibility of stepping into Wilson’s shoes. Now head of his own player agency, Nerlinger didn't feel the time was right to park that and wanted to stick by his clients, despite the offer from Rangers being an attractive one from a club he still holds in high regard.

He told Transfermarkt: "It is a great honour for me to be contacted by this incredibly large and traditional club. Rangers are and always will be special to me.

"With my agency, I have built up a very close, loyal and trusting relationship with my players over the past few years and I feel a great responsibility towards them. The agency is the way I always wanted it to be, and I really enjoy working with the guys every day.”

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