Rangers reveal McLeish departure

Rangers FC have announced that manager Alex McLeish will leave Ibrox at the end of the season in the wake of Wednesday's 2-0 defeat by Aberdeen FC.

New name
That loss left the Glasgow outfit fourth in the Scottish Premier League and chairman David Murray today revealed that McLeish will depart in the summer. He also said that the club are "some way down the road" in negotiations with McLeish's replacement, with newspaper reports persistently focusing on former Olympique Lyonnais coach Paul Le Guen.

Murray statement
"The manager's departure was agreed in early January as Alex believed that a four-and-a-half year term at the club was an appropriate period upon which to end his tenure," Murray added. "It has always been the board's intention to make this announcement after the Villarreal [CF] Champions League game, in conjunction with other major changes that will have a significant impact both in terms of new investment and personnel. However, in the light of recent results and helpful discussions, it was agreed that the announcement should be made now."

Mixed campaign
The decision ends a four-and-a-half year spell at Ibrox for McLeish, who guided the side to a dramatic title triumph on the final day of the 2004/05 campaign - his second league championship with the Ibrox club. McLeish has been unable to inspire a repeat this term, however, although their poor league form has contrasted markedly with a remarkable UEFA Champions League run, with Rangers becoming the first Scottish side to progress beyond the competition's group stage. They will face Villarreal CF in the last 16.