Rangers fans in the Transfer Tavern are getting merry on ale, hoping for better times ahead at Ibrox after a chaotic few weeks. 

The Mark Warburton debacle has seen Graeme Murty take the hot seat on a caretaker basis but few expect the former Reading defender to still be in charge at the start of next season – especially considering he’s won just two of his four games at the helm.

One man well in the mix to take the role permanently is Alex McLeish, who won two top flight titles and two Scottish Cups during his first stint in charge of the Glasgow giants.

In fact The Daily Record’s Jonathan McFlarlane believes Rangers must appoint the 58-year-old as soon as possible, or else run the risk of finishing third in the Scottish Premiership this season.

But if McLeish were to take the job now, there are several issues he’d have to address immediately at Ibrox. We look at the two biggest problems he must solve.

Away form

Whilst Ibrox is still very much a fortress, with Rangers losing there just twice this season, away form has been a real problem throughout 2016/17. In contrast, the Gers have won only five times on the road this term, also losing six from a possible 14. If Rangers are to beat Aberdeen to second place in the top flight, they simply must start picking up more points away from home. That could require a change of style; Mark Warburton always insisted upon an expansive brand of football. But it’s easier said than done when looking at Rangers’ remaining away fixtures, which brings us onto…

Results in big games

Perhaps the biggest criticism of Mark Warburton was Rangers’ poor results in big games throughout his spell in charge. The Gers have already lost to Hearts, Aberdeen and Celtic this season, whilst they suffered double defeats to Falkirk and Hibernian in the Scottish Championship last term. Rangers must improve drastically in big games going forward, but particularly in the remaining weeks of the season. If they’re to clinch top spot, away wins over Celtic and particularly Aberdeen, in March and April respectively, are vital. McLeish will have to get his tactics spot on, and perhaps accept more attritional performances to grind out the right results.