Next Rangers manager: Ex Newcastle United captain emerges as candidate - already endorsed by Gers legend

Former Newcastle United captain Scott Parker is one of the leading candidates for the vacant Rangers role following the sacking of Michael Beale earlier this month.

GlasgowWorld reports that the Scottish giants have whittled down options to a shortlist of four with Parker in contention alongside Kevin Muscat, Phillipe Clement and Pascal Jansen. The former midfielder, who made 73 appearances for the Magpies, has been out of work since his dismissal from Club Brugge in March.

Parker's managerial career to date has also included spells at Fulham and Bournemouth, overseeing both clubs' promotion to the Premier League, but struggling to get the results needed for Premier League success.

The 42-year-old spent two years at St James' Park between 2005 and 2007, putting in impressive showings in midfield despite a time of inconsistency for the club. Parker was appointed Newcastle United captain after Alan Shearer's retirement and earned a return to the England squad thanks to his showings in black-and-white.

Rangers are ready to launch crunch talks over a new manager with Gers legend Graeme Souness set to help out chairman John Bennett, chief executive James Bisgrove and director Graeme Park in an advisory role. It is reported Bennett and Bisgrove flew down to London on Sunday night to prepare for interviews with four final candidates after names including former Chelsea man Frank Lampard were dismissed as contenders.

Souness' role in the appointment process could work in Parker's favour, should he be keen on the Rangers job. The midfielder was signed for Newcastle United when Souness was manager and the Scotsman has always been a big fan of Parker's character.

Speaking when Magpies boss in 2006, Souness said: "He wears his heart on his sleeve and you can see what he is on the pitch. I think supporters realise he is someone who gives everything. I don't think I can think of anyone else like him and I've never worked with someone like him.

"He plays to the point of exhaustion. I'm thinking of that incident against Arsenal when he was on the ground just in front of the dugout. He looked up as if he'd been shot. It was: 'that's it, I can't give anymore. I've given everything.' I've never witnessed that before.

"Players like him are few and far between. They are very special players. I think the majority would not have played the way he was feeling on Saturday but he got through 70 minutes."