Rangers CEO hunt suffers new blow as leading target shuts down move

Hearts chief executive Andrew McKinlay insists he has had no contact from Rangers regarding the possibility of taking on the same role at Ibrox.

The Light Blues have been searching for a new CEO since the departure of James Bisgrove at the end of last season.

McKinlay and St Mirren vice-chairman Jim Gillespie have been touted as possible candidates throughout the summer.

"I can put on record very clearly that I've had no conversations with Rangers and Rangers have had no conversations with me," McKinlay, appointed by Hearts in August 2020, told Sky Sports.

"There have been press reports, I have no idea where those press reports have come from. There have been press reports about other individuals who were about to become chief executive and it didn't come to fruition."

"I have no idea what Rangers' plans are for the future. I wish them all the best in their search, but I am absolutely focused on my job with Hearts and I love my job with Hearts and will give it my utmost going forward."

Interim Rangers chairman John Gilligan said in a press conference on Monday that appointing a new CEO was his priority during what he expects to be a short tenure at the helm.

"This is Rangers Football Club and, with respect to the other sports, football is the dominant sport in the country," said Gilligan. "We would expect to attract a top-level candidate."

"The person needs to be multi-faceted and good at everything. He needs to be an assertive character."