Rangers chief’s secret talks with Mark Wotte in search for the way ahead

Mark Wotte has revealed he has held talks with Rangers about advising them on their ‘blueprint’ for future success.

The club who expect to appoint either Mark Warburton or Stuart McCall as their new manager within the next 48 hours wants to restructure itself to get back to the top of Scottish football.

The highly-rated Dutchman had an informative meeting last month with the then acting Ibrox chairman, Paul Murray.

Murray wanted to pick the former SFA Performance Director’s brain on infrastructure at all levels at Ibrox, from their academy to scouting and to the first team.

At that time, the club were considering appointing a Director of Football and a Head Coach.

But since then they have ditched the idea of having a Director of Football after missing out on promotion to the Premiership.

Having played a role in the development of players such as Arjen Robben, Dirk Kuyt and Michael Mols, Wotte who quit the SFA last November would have been a front runner had Rangers pressed ahead with that format.

Wotte told the Sunday Post: “Since leaving the SFA, I have had several invitations from prominent clubs to advise on how to develop world-class players and ensure a better pathway for them into the first team.

“I was lucky to have held some high-profile positions in the game at Feyenoord, Holland Under-21s, Southampton and the SFA.

“Having been a Head Coach at the highest level, Performance Director, Academy Director and a Director of Football over the years I have obtained a good idea about how to run a club.

“That’s probably why Paul Murray met with me.

“He was interested in my more or less ‘out-of-the-box’ opinions on the best philosophies to use in order for a club like Rangers to move forward at all levels. And I thanked him for the invitation.

“It was a very pleasant meeting, and we had a good conversation.

“Paul Murray impressed me. But I would prefer the rest of the contents of it remain private. That is only fair to all concerned.

”I think it is important for clubs to have a Director of Football or Technical Director call it what you will because such a role is vital in the modern game for a variety of reasons.

“Apart from anything else, it is not a cost to the club because it ensures returns on investments on the pitch.

“I’m not fully aware of what the situation is now with Rangers, but if they want to meet with me again, I’ll be more than happy because Rangers is still a huge club.

“There is a clear determination and willingness to move the club forward.”

Wotte also shrugged off Ibrox supremo Dave King’s remarks earlier this week when he was asked about Wotte’s prospects of landing a job.

The South Africa-based businessman who has defended the club’s decision to increase season-ticket sales by 5% despite still being in Scotland’s second tier claimed he had never heard of Wotte.

The Dutchman insisted he was not embarrassed with King not knowing who he is.

Wotte insisted: “Listen, I have no problem with what Dave King said.

“I understand that he, being based in South Africa, will not have his finger on the pulse of every person who has worked in football.

“And most of my work for the SFA was, of course, behind the scenes.”

Following Rangers’ much-criticised EGM on Friday, a statement from King said: “Spending another season in the Championship is an undesirable reality.

“We have to start with rebuilding the footballing side so that we end this next season as champions of the Championship and ready to compete for the Premiership title.

“We must target players who have the quality and desire to play for Rangers.

“We must also ensure that the football structure we put in place provides a sustainable and successful future for the club.”

Who will front that up should be known this week.

After a host of names were linked to becoming Ally McCoist’s full-time successor, former Brentford boss Warburton assisted by Ibrox legend Davie Weir and McCall who improved the side but failed to clinch promotion are the front runners.