ALEX RAE has urged the Rangers board to get in touch with Alex McLeish as they put together their shortlist of candidates for the manager's position.

The ex-Rangers midfielder has just finished a stint in Belgium as assistant to McLeish and insists the 56-year-old is a far better coach than he was when winning two championships for the Glasgow club during a four-and-a-half year spell stretching from late 2001 to 2006.

Rae played for McLeish at that time and would love to join him again at the helm of Rangers, but he claims the one-time Scotland boss would even be an ideal sounding board for the likes of Dave King and Paul Murray as they weigh up their options.

"For me, I would love someone to pick the phone up - whether it's just as a consultant to get Alex's ideas," said Rae.

"I don't even know who is consulting Rangers, as we speak in terms of football matters and what direction to go."

Rae insists, though, that he would love to get back together with McLeish and return to Ibrox to face the challenge of rebuilding the club into a meaningful force.

"For me, I think it would be ideal," said Rae.

"It would be a great opportunity to come back to the team I supported, but what I'm led to believe is that no-one has contacted him from within Ibrox.

"It was 10 years ago that I played under him, and he's matured into a top manager.

"When I saw him when he was younger, he was confrontational and full of energy. I was a bit surprised, when I worked hand in hand with him, how relaxed he was about things.

"I'd love to work with Alex again because he was excellent. I really enjoyed working with him.

"Rangers said something about a foreign manager the other day. I'm not sure that's the road Rangers need to go down, but that's just my view."