Well this market is now in play as Smith has officially left. Mods can you please delete my "Next Rangers Manager" thread below where I advise a lay of Smith
Anyway, yep, agree with Dave that Burns looks more like a coach/assistant nowadays rather than an actual man manager and motivator which is whats required.
I can't understand the price on Levein. He didn't do much at Leicester and he has only just started at Dundee Utd. He is supposedly well regarded by the SFA but he surely doesn't have the experience required.
The SFA, in the statement they have just released about Smith, say they are now taking legal action against Smith for breach of contract and Rangers for inducement to breach contract. Given this comment, I have a feeling the SFA are now going to retain the moral highground and I think this means they will not be looking to take anyone who is in current employment - otherwise they are being hypocritical with their actions v Rangers and Smith.
Whether Burns is classed as being in employment I don't know. Well he is but he isn't employed as a manager so they could reasonably approach him. Other than him, I think it will be a Scot, who is not employed at the current time. Dalglish never seems to have shown any interest in it before so I get the feeling they will look to the next generation, of which McLeish is probably the most high profile man currently available.
Its also worth noting we have games at the end of March so I would think the SFA will want someone in place sooner rather than later. There may also be the need to build a back room team if McCoist doesn't return to the coaching set up on the part time basis he has being doing recently. I don't think he will personally so there is a fair bit the new manager must get on with even before the March games, the SFA need someone now, McLeish is the best candidate IMO.