Kevin Muscat 'wants' Rangers manager talks as Ibrox salvage job appeals following J-League title triumph

Kevin Muscat WOULD be interested in talking to Rangers about becoming their new manager, according to a report.

The former Ibrox defender is the early bookies favourite to replace Michael Beale, who was sacked following a furious fan reaction to Gers' 3-1 home defeat to Aberdeen on Saturday. Steven Davis has been placed in temporary charge, alongside another ex-Light Blues midfielder in the shape if Alex Rae. The pair will take the team to Cyprus for Thursday Europa League clash against Aris Limassol before a trip to Paisley where in-form St Mirren lie in wait.

Muscat is currently in charge of Yokohama F Marinos, but talkSPORT claim the Aussie is keen to speak to Ibrox powerbrokers about replacing Beale. Muscat's stock is high, given he is fresh from a J-League title triumph with Marinos, having taken up mantle from Ange Postecoglou after he departed Yokohama for Glasgow two years ago.

If Muscat is the man for Rangers, then the hope is that he can have a similar impact to his Marinos predecessor. Postecoglou brought about massive change at Celtic following the disastrous end to Neil Lennon's second spell, which saw the 10-In-A-Row dream go up in flames amid fab protests.

Postecoglou delivered a League Cup and Premiership double in his first season. He went one better last term, securing a world record eighth Treble in the club's history before taking the chance to join Tottenham Hotspur in the summer.

However, Muscat wouldn't be starting with the same clean slate as Postecoglou. Beale spent big in the summer, but of his new additions, only goalkeeper Jack Butland has performed to the standard required and re-programming a squad built by the previous boss to adapt to a brand new style cold prove challenging for Muscat.