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New Hearts boss Ian Cathro has revealed he did speak to Rangers about becoming their potential new manager 18 months ago.
The 30-year-old was linked with the vacancy to replace Stuart McCall in June 2015 and that speculation intensified when the former Dundee United youth guru left his post as number two at Valencia.
But Cathro admitted the move did not feel right for him or the club and Rangers eventually appointed Mark Warburton.
In a strange twist of fate, the top-flight’s youngster ever gaffer, who became Newcastle United assistant manager later that month, will now make his historic dugout debut in tomorrow’s Premiership clash at Ibrox after being named as Robbie Neilson’s replacement on Monday.
Speaking for the first time about Rangers’ interest, the Dundonian said: “I think it was publicly documented at the time that there was a couple of meetings and some chat but it wasn’t right on either side and it never happened.
“Was I close to going there? I don’t really know to be honest.
“Rangers made the step that they did and so far I think they’ve done everything they were meant to do, so it’s gone well.
“When something feels entirely right, in work or in life, you know. There has been maybe a couple of times where I could maybe have taken that first step but it’s never felt like what this felt like.
“So I can just wash everything else away and just be focused and pleased that this is the right place.
“It’s only a question or a point of discussion because there was a bit of press coverage on that at the time. We’re giving it more due than what it was.
“There is no sense of irony around going there now. It was a conversation, no more than that.”
Asked if it was hard not to feel excited about the chance to realise his dream of becoming a manager in his own right at Rangers, the ex-Rio Ave number two, added: “No, I’m not that guy. I wasn’t in a rush to be the youngest to do something. I was in a rush to be good at doing something.
“I didn’t feel like ‘it needs to be now’. It doesn’t. It needs to be right. It needs to be when I’m ready, when the people around me are ready.
“I’m more focused on being able to be good than being able to be first or being the youngest at something.
“It doesn’t really matter. This is probably the next 20 years of my life and I want that to have more goods than averages in it.”
Rangers boss Warburton was slammed for not having a Plan B following last Wednesday’s 2-0 defeat at Tynecastle but Cathro rejects that criticism.
He said: “I think that’s slightly unfair. They have other movements, they have other ways that they can bring the ball out.
“The point I would probably make is that there is a clear process in the team. They have obviously done good work. It’s a well-trained team. There is more than one thing that goes on.”
