RANGERS will have to fend off strong interest from several of England’s leading clubs to land Paul Mitchell as their new director of football, the Ibrox club were last night warned.

Mitchell has emerged as the leading contender for the new role at the Ladbrokes Premiership club after Ross Wilson decided to remain in his position at Southampton.

Wilson, the 34-year-old Scot who has previously worked at Falkirk, Watford and Huddersfield, had been the Rangers board’s preferred choice.

However, he has chosen to stay at the St Mary’s Stadium, where he only moved last year, after taking the past week to mull over the offer.

Mitchell, who left his position as head of recruitment with Tottenham Hotspur on Tuesday after spending the last six months on gardening leave, is now the front runner for the post.

The 35-year-old resigned back in August after the White Hart Lane club appointed Steve Hitchen as their chief scout. He is reported to have found working with chairman Daniel Levy difficult in north London.

But Gary Teale, a close friend and former team mate of the Englishman, believes it won’t be long before he lands another prominent role at a major Barclays Premier League club.

The former Wigan and MK Dons defender is held in high regard down south as a result of his success in the transfer market at both Southampton and Spurs. He was instrumental in Sadio Mane and Dusan Tadic joining Southampton and Dele Alli moving to Spurs.

Teale, the former Scotland winger who played with Mitchell at Wigan, is confident that Mitchell’s services will be in great demand.

“I’m still in contact with Paul and have been over the last number of years,” he said. “My personal experience is he’s a very personable guy with a vast knowledge of the game for someone of such a young age.

“He is a great people person with a fantastic personality. He is able to engage with anyone. He is quite a funny guy and is always cracking jokes. He isn’t the class clown, but he is very witty, very sharp, very switched on. He is a Mancunian with a broad Mancunian accent.

“But, let’s be honest, you don’t get to do the jobs he’s done at the clubs he’s worked at without having great nous, intelligence and acumen. He’s very bright guy. That is why he is held in such high regard in the game.

“There are a few clubs that want to talk to him. I don’t know the circumstances behind him leaving Tottenham, but I am sure that ideally they would have wanted to keep him as well.”

Robert Rowan, the Scot who is head of football operations at Brentford, and Craig Moore, the former defender who is football director at Brisbane Roar in Australia, have also been linked with moves to Rangers.

Teale can understand why Mitchell is also being considered given his track record at MK Dons, Southampton and Spur.

“The players Paul brought in at Southampton and Tottenham have always provided great value for money,” he said. “If he can do that at that level then he can also do it at Rangers. The skill set he has is what matters.”