Next Rangers manager LIVE as Ally McCoist reckons Davide Ancelotti bombshell means 49ers takeover is imminent

It's taken us all by surprise but Davide Ancelotti is the leading contender to be named as the new Rangers manager.

Certainly that’s the case if you believe the reports coming out of Madrid and Italy. We are, however, not so sure as the club conduct interviews with a number of candidates.

The Italian coach has more than learned his trade under his legendary father Carlo at several of the planet's top clubs including Real Madrid and Bayern Munich but it remains to be seen how he will fare when he forges his own career on the touchline.

The upcoming summer at Ibrox is set to the biggest in recent memory. It's been a disastrous season on the pitch for Rangers and incoming owners 49ers Enterprises - led by Andrew Cavenagh - know they will have a huge task on their hands to try to bridge the gap on city rivals Celtic.

A raft of changes to the playing squad are also expected but the priority for the hierarchy will be to get their new man in place to give Gers every chance of getting off to a flyer next season, with the Champions League qualifiers just around the corner.

Rangers are ramping up their search for a new manager and you can join us LIVE for all the latest news with Ancelotti currently the frontrunner to succeed interim boss Barry Ferguson.

Rangers legend McCoist also reckons talk that Davide Ancelotti is set to be named as the new man in the dugout at Ibrox means that the 49ers Enterprises will complete their takeover of the club before the appointment is confirmed.

He told talkSPORT:

What this appointment would tell me is that the takeover is just about done. They are not going to go and appoint somebody if the takeover is not done.

The club will be in new hands before a new manager is appointed. It just makes