(Credit: Imago)
Rangers may be forced to pay a seven figure sum if they are to agree a compensation package with Shanghai Port for their manager Kevin Muscat.
That is according to football finance expert Dr Dan Plumley, who told Football Insider how much the Glasgow Club may have to pay Shanghai Port for their top managerial target.
Muscat has become the leading contender for the Rangers job, after Danny Rohl and Steven Gerrard both pulled out of the running to become the manager at Ibrox.
Rangers sacked Russell Martin after just 123 days in charge, and under-19 boss Steven Smith will take interim charge and manage the team against Dundee United.
Compensation figure ‘wont be huge’ for Kevin Muscat
Speaking to Football Insider exclusively, Plumley revealed the figure that Rangers may have to reach to be able to bring Muscat to the club.
“You’re going to have some compensation to pay there [Russell Martin], likewise if you’re extracting a new manager from a contract you would have to pay a little bit of compensation there as well,” Plumley said.
“Those figures won’t be huge I would say in the context of those clubs, it’s not going to be multi millions, but it could easily be low single digit millions, it depends on the nature of the contract.
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“The clauses will already be in the contract but it could be in the region of £1million to £2m, it’s not insignificant and it’s not going to be multi-millions as well.
“There certainly will be compensation fees there on both sides because if you’re terminating a contract early it carries a cost and buying somebody out of a contract is also going to come at a price.“
Muscat timeline revealed
Muscat is currently trying to lead Shanghai Port to the league title in China, with the club currently two points clear of second place with three games left.
The earlier Muscat can lead Shanghai Port to the title, the earlier he could become Rangers boss.
If that title race does go down to the wire then the earliest Muscat could take his first Rangers game would be against Braga in the Europa League on November 27th.