Would Hearts' McInnes be 'perfect fit' for Rangers?

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Derek McInnes made 52 appearances for Rangers during his playing days [SNS]

While Scotland's journey at the World Cup dominates discussion, Hearts head coach Derek McInnes' seemingly impending move to Rangers rumbles on.

If completed, it would be another massive story in Scottish football, which has had a year like no other for jaw-dropping moments.

Just a month after taking Hearts to within minutes of a first title for 66 years McInnes could be on his way to the side he finished above last season.

But with Danny Rohl set to head to RB Salzburg, it paves the way for McInnes to return to Ibrox, where he played between 1995 and 2000.

His former assistant Tony Docherty, believes McInnes would be a "perfect fit" for Rangers and will help solve the club's underperformance issues.

"It's a brilliant opportunity - if it presents itself," Docherty told the Scottish Football Podcast.

"Nothing surprises me in football. If it goes the way it looks as though it's going to go, I think it's the perfect fit for Rangers to be totally honest."

McInnes 'mentality' missing piece for Rangers​

Not many people know McInnes better than Docherty, who worked with him at St Johnstone and Aberdeen for well over a decade.

The former Dundee boss believes it McInnes' competitive edge would will help Rangers take the fight to Celtic - in particular - right to the end of the season.

When the split came around last season, Rangers were in second place, one point behind Hearts and in front of Celtic. Rohl said his side had "five cup finals" to play, and they ended up losing four of them to finish a distant third.

Questions about Rangers' mentality have come up year after year, and Docherty thinks McInnes' edge could help resolve them.

"Derek is a hugely competitive person," he added. "You saw that last year, when people thought his team were going to disappear.

"Purely through him and the recruitment he did they were competitive right the way through.

"I've got no doubt having that edge and having played at Rangers and having that affinity with the club, it will be a fantastic appointment.

"It is that mentality, you saw it in abundance last year. You've seen it all through his career, the amount of second-place finishes to Brendan Rodgers' Celtic with an Aberdeen team.

"And last year, every time Hearts were written off they would come up trumps."

Former Rangers and Dundee striker Rory Loy believes Rohl moving on and McInnes coming in is the "perfect scenario" at Ibrox.

"To think three or four weeks ago, some Rangers fans - given the decline after the split - were looking to move him [Rohl] on," he told the Scottish Football Podcast.

"To get money for him and to use that money to recruit Derek McInnes, I don't think it could have fallen more favourably for Rangers.

"The one thing Derek McInnes will bring above all else is the one thing that's been levelled at Rangers for the last decade - that's what is between the ears, that's mentality."

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O'Neill v McInnes sets up title race​

With Martin O'Neill installed as Celtic manager on the back of winning a league and Scottish Cup double last season, Rangers will again be trying to halt their rivals' dominance.

As a manager McInnes has only won the League Cup, with Aberdeen in 2014, and steered Kilmarnock to the Championship title.

However, his career at Aberdeen, Kilmarnock, and Hearts has been characterised by getting the most from his squad while going up against better-resourced opponents.

At Pittodrie he lost cup finals and the league to Rodgers' dominant Celtic, while Kilmarnock took Old Firm scalps on their way to European football in McInnes' second season.

Then he delivered Hearts' best-ever points tally as they lost out in the dying minutes to O'Neill's Celtic last season.

"His one issue may be is he's coming up against a powerhouse when it comes to these things in Martin O'Neill," Loy said. "He has a proven track record. To win seven on the bounce last year to win the title was unbelievable.

"I genuinely believe that if Derek McInnes was the Rangers manager going into the split, they don't collapse. They might not have won it - but I don't think they collapse. They take it to the last day at the very least.

"And with Martin O'Neill in charge, he has a proven track record, I think it has all the ingredients for nip-and-tuck, last game of the season stuff."

Docherty agrees if McInnes does end up at Rangers, next season will be fascinating.

"If it does happen and Martin O'Neill is in place at Celtic and Derek McInnes is in place at Rangers it's going to be one hell of a title race this year," he added.

"Derek's strength is his longevity. He's been a manager for 18 years. For 15 years I was assistant to him. It's incredible to have that longevity and that amount of success."

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