Curiosity killed the Muscat

Gers KO'd Kev for odd reasons last time but they can't afford to dismiss steely Aussie again

- KEITH JACKSON

HE was almost certainly the best man for the Rangers job three years ago when he made it into the interview process.

But Kevin Muscat was pipped at the post for the position by Philippe Clement and there's not much to be learned from picking through the bones of that particular misstep.

Needless to say, Rangers are right back at square one, knee deep in an ongoing, self-inflicted crisis and desperately searching for another new manager or head coach having parted company with the Belgian some time ago before hiring and then firing Russell Martin as his successor.

During this same period of almost unrelenting chaos and downward spirals, Muscat's own credentials have continued to soar.

He recovered from the stinging disappointment of being overlooked by his former club, and denied a route into European football, by landing a job in China with Shanghai Port. Having led them to the Super League title last season, he's hunting down a second successive championship win, with his rampant team sitting in pole position with just four games of the Asian season remaining.

They've blitzed 63 goals in 26 league games which is in itself an indicator of the kind of football Muscat endorses.

In other words, while Rangers have drifted further and further away from being considered a credible force in their own back yard, Muscat has been trending upwards once again having already conquered the A-League in Australia as well as the J-League in Japan.

Ironically, he may have lost out on the Rangers job last time around chiefly because the men in charge of making that decision at the time were worried they would stand accused of trying to copy Celtic's playbook.

At that particular time there were lazy accusations being tossed around that Muscat was some sort of Ange Postecoglou light, having followed in the trailblazing footsteps of the former Parkhead boss from one club and continent to the next.