New era of 21st Century Rangers has started & the melodrama that led to liquidation is over.. now the actors must leave the stage and take past with them

American buyout means putting tin lid on doing the ‘Glasgow thing’

- HUGH KEEVINS

DAVE KING'S public push for Steven Gerrard to be named Rangers manager was always a backward step based on shaky ground.

And a bit of a cheek as well.

The former Ibrox chairman was acting like someone who had sold his house yet reserved the right to tell the buyer how to decorate the property after he had left the building.

In other words, the managerial search was none of his business.

King sold his 13 per cent interest in Rangers to 49ers Enterprises to help facilitate their majority shareholding takeover of the club, which is now officially done and dusted.

Andrew Cavenagh, the driving force behind the Californian conglomerate, was always going to be the man who would ultimately take the decision concerning the hiring of a new manager.

And he was never going to listen to, far less comply with, outside influences.

Cavenagh is, with his feet now firmly under the table in the Blue Room, manoeuvering Rangers towards the door marked “21st Century” and former actors in the Ibrox melodrama, which has lasted since administration became liquidation in 2011, must now leave the stage and take the past with them.

An American-owned club playing in Scotland could now be managed by one of two Italians, Davide Ancelotti or Francesco Farioli.

Former Scotland star Russell Martin, late of Southampton, relegation and removal from his post, may also be in the frame for the job.

I've got even less to do with what happens next than King.