ANDREI Kanchelsksis last night endorsed the credentials of his former Rangers team-mate Derek McInnes to be the Ibrox side's next permanent manager.

The current Aberdeen manager, the front runner for the post ever since Rangers parted company with Pedro Caixinha three weeks ago, was being linked yesterday with another of his former clubs, West Bromwich Albion, after the dismissal of manager Tony Pulis.

While McInnes is highly thought of at the Hawthorns, Kanchelskis - who returned to Ibrox for the first time in decades this weekend - feels that the club's next manager should be young and someone who understands the Scottish mentality. In other words, the former midfielder fits the job descripition perfectly for the Rangers post and the club would be missing a tick if they allowed him to slip through their fingers.

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“I think Rangers need to bring in someone who understands Scottish and English football and the mentality," said Kanchelskis. "Pedro Caixinha was working in Qatar but the football over there is different and a different level to the football in Scotland.

“The club needs someone who can understand the mentality but not someone like a McLeish or Strachan," he added. "They need some new, younger coaches. Sometimes young coaches get brought in and changed after six months but they need some time.

“I remember Derek when he played for Rangers as a midfielder. He was a nice guy. He has been working at Aberdeen and been successful so why not? When you think of his age and what he has done, it is a great moment for him. He played for Rangers and understands the Scottish football mentality.”

Read more: Matthew Lindsay: Rangers must move swiftly for Derek McInnes - and avoid taking the cheap option

Kanchelskis, who was shown the door at Ibrox by Alex McLeish, isn't quite so warm about the possibility of the former Aberdeen and Scotland defender returning to the club for a second spell. "In my opinion, he [McLeish] was a coach with a double face – one day he would speak with you okay and after an hour he was double-faced and tell you a lot of rubbish,” Kanchelskis said. “Some players from Scotland will know what I'm saying."