FOOTBALL is such a nomadic, incestuous business that it is hardly

a surprise when connections and coincidences crop up from time to time. It is part of the charm of the game. And so, it seemed only natural

to pursue the avenue that could have led to Ian Cathro being in the home dug-out at Ibrox rather than making his first appearance on the touchline as Hearts’ new head coach.

Rangers, on the back of a traumatic season that saw them go through three different managers while failing to win promotion out of the Championship at the first attempt, spoke to Cathro about the prospect of succeeding Stuart McCall in the job before instead plumping for Mark Warburton. Cathro and Warburton will meet for the first time tomorrow ahead of what could be a pivotal game for both sides and their intentions for the remainder of the season.

The Dundonian comes across as quite a quirky, idiosyncratic figure in his media dealings making it difficult to nail down just how serious either he or the new Rangers board were regarding their pursuit of the then 28 year-old 18 months ago. But he is hasty to dismiss the notion that it could be considered ironic that his first step into senior Scottish football will come against Rangers rather than for them.

“I think it was publicly documented at the time that there was a couple of meetings [with Rangers] and some chat but it wasn’t right on either side and it never happened,” he said. “I don’t really know [how close it was to happening] to be honest. When something feels entirely right, in work or in life, you know.

“There has been maybe a couple of times where I could maybe have taken that first step but it’s never felt like what this felt like [at Hearts]. So I can just wash everything else away and just be focused and pleased that this is the right place.

“There is no sense of irony around [him starting off at Ibrox]. It was a conversation, no more than that. Rangers made the step that they did [by appointing Warburton] and so far I think they’ve done everything they were meant to do. So it’s gone well.”

It could also be deduced as ironic that Cathro’s opening game pits him up against a man in Warburton who was initially painted in the early months as the unorthodox, revolutionary choice. Now there is a feeling that Rangers under the Englishman’s stewardship have become too inflexible and rigid in the way that they play, a notion Cathro diplomatically moved to refute.

“I think that’s slightly unfair [to stay they have no Plan B]. They have other movements, they have other ways that they can bring the ball out. The point I would probably make is that there is a clear process in the team. They have obviously done good work. It’s a well-trained team. There is more than one thing that goes on.”

The paradox with Cathro, of course, is that he is youthful but with vast experience behind him. His career has taken him inside many of Portugal, Spain and England’s imposing stadia but he is respectful about what kind of atmosphere a full, cacophonous Ibrox might produce.

“The only time in my life I’ve ever walked into a stadium and felt remotely intimidated was the very first time we went to Benfica’s Estadio da Luz,” he recalled. “It’s an incredible arena and I was on the touchline looking around thinking ‘Oooh!’ But then five minutes went past and it was a game with our players trying to do the things we wanted them to do against what we thought their players would do. And after that you’re completely unaware of the crowd although I must admit we didn’t do that well against Benfica!

“I’ve been to Ibrox before. It was maybe some Champions League games way back, although a lot of the times it was to see the other team. It’s a powerful stadium, of course. It’s good. It’s what makes football what we all love it for, one of the nice moments. But it’s a game. There are three outcome at the end and we know what one we would prefer.”

Cathro seems inwardly calm but admits that even he can sometimes find himself caught up in the moment during a game. “How will I be in the dug-out? Crazy! No, I’m just whatever’s natural. I’m generally a calm person but I can be a bit mad. Nature takes care of those things. That’s one of the most important things. We are people as well. We are what we are. That’s part of how you learn and build relationships with people. You just allow people to see you and what’s real.”