Stephen Robinson is Rangers manager in waiting after Brendan Rodgers battle as 'natural step' for St Mirren boss named

Peter Hartley reckons it’s time Rangers looked to Stephen Robinson as their future manager.

The Northern Irishman has been passed over by big-name Scottish clubs despite sustained achievement with Motherwell and St Mirren. Aberdeen, Hearts and Hibs all looked elsewhere in recent seasons after lukewarm links with Robbo. That’s baffling to former Fir Park skipper Hartley who believes Robinson is destined for much better. He took Motherwell to two cup finals and a third-place finish in nearly four years with the Steelmen. He’s now working his magic for soaring St Mirren as they seek to build on last year’s top-six finish. The Buddies are four points clear of ‘best of the rest’ rivals two months into the current campaign.

Hartley is convinced he’ll take Saints into Europe and could keep them in the top rank for seasons to come. Then it will be impossible for his talent not to catch the attention of a major club.

Hartley said: “I remember at Motherwell, Robbo was heavily linked with Hearts but it didn’t materialise. You’d think something like that would be the next natural step but the cream always rises to the top.

“Ange Postecoglou is 58, just arrived in the English Premier League and is at the top of it. All those years working hard, thinking your goals and targets won’t be reached then, overnight, it clicks.

“Someone will take a punt on you, believe in you and propel you to the top. I do believe, knowing how persistent the man is, Robbo will keep on evolving as he has done in the last few years.

“St Mirren are going to be there or thereabouts for Europe now with him there as manager. And I wouldn’t be surprised to see him at Rangers in four or five years. Tactically, as a person and leader, he’s more than capable of