THE NEW regime at Rangers will not rush into appointing a new manager because they believe it will be the most important decision they will make.

Excitable supporters want a new man right away to try to coax better performances out of an under-achieving team.

But Dave King and his allies will take their time to select the right candidate because they believe it is absolutely pivotal to their plans.

At the very latest, the South African-based tycoon will assume control at Friday's Extraordinary General Meeting.

However, the historic shift in power could take place before that with chief executive Derek Llambias and finance director Barry Leach tipped to follow James Easdale and chairman David Somers and leave before they are pushed.

The new regime will hold their first board meeting within hours of taking over and begin the healing and rebuilding job at Rangers after nearly four years of turbulence and mismanagement.

Top of the agenda will be the new manager who will be tasked with leading Rangers through the play-offs into the Premiership and then completely rebuilding the team for next season.

There are 11 players out of contract in the summer - Captain Lee McCulloch, Kris Boyd, Kenny Miller, Jon Daly, Bilel Mohsni, Richard Foster, Steven Smith, Sebastien Faure, Ian Black, Kyle Hutton and Steve Simonsen.

It can be revealed that the new regime have not sounded out anyone yet in terms of taking over from Kenny McDowall who has been acting as a reluctant caretaker since Ally McCoist was placed on gardening leave on December 21 last year.

They have taken considerable advice from a number of key stakeholders in football because they want to make sure they make the best appointment possible.

It was widely thought that former Rangers players Stuart McCall, Derek McInnes and Billy Davies would be the main contenders but the net is being spread much wider.

They will not rush into selecting the 14th permanent manager of the club even although the team's form has slumped again after last week's miserable 1-1 draw at Falkirk.

A source close to the new regime said: "They have not spoken to anyone yet about becoming the new manager but tireless work has already been done.

"They want to make sure that they get this appointment right because they feel that it will arguably be the biggest decision they will make.

"The manager is the focal point of the club and must lead from the front. Obviously he will have a pivotal role in the recovery of the club.

"Counsel has been sought with some of the most experienced names in the game because they know this appointment is so crucial."

It is also expected that Sandy Easdale's corporate involvement will be terminated. Easdale is chairman of the Football Board, which is appointed by the plc board.