Graeme Souness insists next Rangers manager will be 'big man' as Michael Beale's top priority turns busted flush

Graeme Souness insists Rangers will land a big man as their next boss after the sacking of Michael Beale.

Ibrox chiefs pulled the trigger on the Londoner last weekend after a 3-1 Premiership defeat to Aberdeen at Ibrox proved the final straw after a poor start to the season. Losing to Aris Limassol midweek in the Europa League under interim gaffer Steven Davis' guidance proved the new boss has challenges to lift the under-performing squad, and Frank Lampard has been ruled out of contention after preliminary talks.

It leaves names such as Kevin Muscat, Phillipe Clement and Oliver Glasner being touted for the job and former boss Souness insists summer recruitment has let Beale down, but there will still be top names interested in becoming the next Rangers manager. The pundit wrote in his Daily Mail column: "In hindsight, it was an enormous ask for Michael Beale, a rookie manager, to take over at a giant club like Rangers. It went well for me in Glasgow, though it was the most difficult job I had in 20 years of management because of the expectation levels, the pressures and the unyielding spotlight.

"And I have to say that it would be the same for any Celtic boss. Michael lost his job after three defeats in seven and the one which will have hurt most was losing to Celtic at home.

"Getting recruitment right is the top priority for any boss but unfortunately for Michael, his signings haven't turned up yet this season. Rangers and Celtic are operating with TV incomes of around £3million, while playing to full houses of around 60,000.

"I live on the south coast, where Bournemouth get gates of 11,000, and their TV revenue is around £100m. For the Rangers and Celtic manager, it's all of the pressure and a fraction of the money.