Former Hearts and Hibs assistant manager Billy Brown reckons Davie Weir would be the natural successor to Mark Warburton if the Englishman is lured south of the border.
Brown worked with the former defender for a total of seven years at both Falkirk and Hearts and reckons Warburton’s decision to recruit Weir as his number two – initially at Brentford – is one of the best signings he will ever make.
Weir’s first and only foray into management did not go as planned at Sheffield United after a poor run of results at the start of the 2013/14 campaign saw him last only four months in the dugout.
But with Warburton having been continually linked with a return to England during a season that has seen him deliver the Championship title and guide the team to the William Hill Scottish Cup final at the expense of Celtic, Brown believes Weir, who won eight domestic titles during his playing days at Ibrox, could eventually take on the reins at Rangers.
Brown said: “Could Davie by the natural successor to take over? Yeah.
“I think if Mark ever has designs on going back to England – which he may do – then I would think that Davie Weir would be the one they would turn to.
“Whether Davie wants to go back to England I don’t know, his family is still there.
“I would think at the minute, knowing David, he won’t be thinking about that – it’ll be how well he can do at Rangers right now.
“I still keep in touch with him, I am very friendly with him.
“I look at his career and how every step he has taken he has handled it no bother.
“The only blip so far has been Sheffield United, which was a surprise.
“But look at Sir Bobby Robson, one of the greatest managers ever in English football.He was sacked from his first job at Fulham.
“Sheffield United just didn’t happen for Davie and he didn’t get a lot of time, as no-one does.
“But I am sure Davie will turn out to be as good a manager as he was a player.
“And that would make him a top manager.
“If Mark Warburton can sign players as astutely as he appointed his right hand man Rangers are in for a good time. Appointing him was a great move.
“And I think his experience, his calmness, his knowledge, has contributed vastly to what they’ve done there.”
Brown’s connection to Weir and Hibs ensures he will have more than a passing interest in next month’s Scottish Cup final.
He was number two to Pat Fenlon when Hibs were annihilated 5-1 by city rivals Hearts in the 2012 final and reckons the fact the Leith side have not won the competition since 1902 weighs down heavily on the players.
He added: “It is a big pressure being Hibs. Sometimes it’s easier if you don’t get to cup finals and I think some of the Hibs supporters feel the same now, it’s, ‘oh no, here we go again!’
“This year there is a genuine chance. It is a big pressure being there with the expectations that a club like Hibs should have won the Scottish Cup at some point.
“I was the assistant manager in the 5-1 defeat and that was a disaster of epic proportions that one.
“There is a new regime now and different thinking and maybe this time will be different.”
•Billy Brown was speaking at a William Hill media event. William Hill is the proud sponsor of the Scottish Cup.
