Cathro quits Valencia – have Rangers plotted his appointment?
Rangers’ managerial soap opera
today took a new twist when (former) target Ian Cathro quit his assistant coach
role at Valencia
citing ‘family reasons’.
Previously he was viewed as a
pipe dream, and an outsider for the role, but his departure from Champions
League-bound Valencia
is a big shock and unexpected turn in the increasing saga.
He has returned to Scotland, and
it must be said, conjecture though it may be, the ‘family reasons’ cited could
simply be his desire to return home and exploit it by making the step up to
senior management he craves.
On departing he said:
“I would
like to thank Nuno Espirito Santo for the opportunity to work with him in the
top leagues in Portugal and Spain. It has been a unique and hugely rewarding experience for an
ambitious Scottish coach. I wish Valencia the success they deserve.
I had an amazing time with a great club in a fantastic city. This was a very
difficult decision to take and was agreed some time ago.”
The latter portion is critical –
Cathro clearly knew weeks ago he was not remaining as Valencia coach,
but was undecided whether or not to take the Rangers job. It presses the
possibility the delay in Rangers’ announcement is down to Rangers’ board
awaiting this confirmation before pushing ahead with negotiations with the
former Dundee Utd youth coach.
If they have not already agreed
terms with him.
His odds have gone from 8/1 to
6/4 while Warburton’s have faded dramatically – he remains odds-on but
nowhere near the level he was at. He is now 4/5.