NEIL Alexander has urged Rangers to do whatever it takes to make Derek McInnes the next manager at Ibrox.

The Aberdeen boss has emerged as the leading contender to replace Pedro Caixinha after he was sacked after just seven months in charge.

Former Light Blues keeper Alexander worked with McInnes at Pittodrie last term as the Dons finished second in the Premiership and reached the finals of the Betfred Cup and Scottish Cup.

And Alexander believes the 46-year-old is the obvious candidate the Ibrox board should turn to as they continue their search for Caixinha’s successor.

He said: “My opinion, and this was the same opinion before Caixinha was given the job, is Derek McInnes [for Rangers], all day long.

“One of the reasons I went to Aberdeen was because I was wanting to work with Derek McInnes, because of what he’s done for Aberdeen, what he’s done in the past.

“I had a few chats with him before I signed and I was extremely impressed with what he had to say, what his beliefs were on football and his vision for the future.

“For me, hands down, he would be my number one target for Rangers.

“He’s a fantastic manager, he’s done extremely well with the resources he’s had at Aberdeen and he’s been very successful in his time at Aberdeen.

“He’s a Rangers man, he knows the club, he knows the demands of the fans, the expectations, the pride of that badge and what it takes.

“Is it the time for him to leave? Is it a mess at Rangers? Does he have money?

“But sometimes you only get one opportunity to go to a big club – it might never happen again due to different circumstances.

“Rangers have got to get it right and if that means spending money to get Derek McInnes out of his Aberdeen contract they’ve got to do it.

“They shouldn’t rush into it, they should take their time and get the right man. Whatever it costs, they have to get this right.”

Rangers started life after Caixinha with a 3-1 win over Hearts on Saturday as a Kenny Miller brace and Josh Windass strike clinched a crucial Premiership victory.

Under-20 boss Graeme Murty has again made the step up to the first team dugout and will take charge of the Light Blues while the recruitment process is ongoing at Ibrox.

Murty had a six game stint at the helm earlier in the year as he took over from Mark Warburton before Caixinha was appointed in March.

And Alexander reckons the 42-year-old has a bright future in the game ahead of him as he looks to forge a career on the touchline.

He said: “He’s doing a fantastic job in the interim and doing a great job behind the scenes with the Under-20s, and he’s learning his trade.

“He’s still young; I think he’s got fantastic prospects for the future, to become a really good manager, but at the minute it’s too soon for him.

“He’s got a great understanding of being a player – he’s not long out the game.

“He flew through all his coaching badges, he’s got really good contacts down south, he reads up on the game, he just wants to learn and improve himself.

“He’s got the opportunity, he’s got the team, and he’s doing it his way,” Alexander added.