A NATURAL-BORN LEADER: MUSCY'S THE MAN FOR GERS

KEVIN MUSCAT was going to watch Rangers before he even played for them.

- BY SCOTT MCDERMOTT

And rather than being put off by the magnitude of the club or the pressure of wearing the shirt - it convinced him Ibrox was the place to be. When he arrived in Govan in the summer of 2002, he found a dressing-room packed with leaders and strong characters.

For a new guy, it would have been easy to go into his shell. Instead, he thrived on it. And in the company of Barry Ferguson, Lorenzo Amoruso, Stefan Klos and Ronald de Boer - Muscat was never afraid to speak his mind.

That's the verdict of his former Rangers teammate Bob Malcolm, who was also part of that Treble-winning squad.

Malcolm, right, played for the club but is now a fan. And, while a beleaguered support debate as to who should replace Russell Martin, the 44-year-old has no doubts.

Malcolm believed Muscat was the guy Rangers should have appointed when Michael Beale got the job. He thought the same when Philippe Clement took over. And he's more convinced than ever that Muscat has all the credentials to become gaffer now.

The former Australian international is a leading contender for the Ibrox gig, but the club might have to wait.

Muscat has been sounded out about a return to Glasgow, but is on the verge of a successful title defence with Chinese outfit Shanghai Port - they are currently top of the Chinese Super League table, with four games to play.