Falkirk manager Peter Houston is in no doubt that former Dundee United youth supremo Ian Cathro will become a head coach.

But Houston - who was yesterday named Championship Manager of the Month for December - reckons the 28-year-old should focus on gaining more experience in the dugout before contemplating any switch to Rangers.

Houston was part of the managerial team at Tannadice when Cathro, who is credited with unearthing Sporting Lisbon midfielder Ryan Gauld, revolutionised the youth set-up. Cathro is currently number two to Nuno Espirito Santo at Valencia and has been linked with the Rangers post after Ally McCoist was placed on gardening leave.

But Houston, who has guided the Bairns to the brink of the Championship play-offs with a run of six wins from seven games, warned yesterday that there is a big difference between coaching and management.

He said: "Craig Levein always spoke very highly of Ian because he went away and watched a couple of his things. It does not surprise me he has been linked with it because I think Ian will eventually get an offer to be a head coach somewhere.

"He is probably still learning at Valencia working with first team players with regards to attitudes and egos and that's a great learning experience. He has to make sure that he's learned enough that he can go in and handle that side of it as manager's jobs now are more to do with egos and reputations.

"The coaching side is the easy part because they all want to play football and all listen to you with what you want to do shape-wise. Ian is a talented boy and still a young boy yet, it might be a huge ask but eventually I believe he will be able of doing a job of that stature."

Houston, who left his scouting role at Celtic to take over at the Bairns last summer, is delighted his side are now only three points adrift of the play-offs following a difficult start to the season.

He added: "I always thought it would take a wee while to get the place sorted out but being older and more experienced, I didn't panic about it because you know if you stick to the things that did okay in the past, it will be okay. "I always think there is a transitional period when a new manager comes in; you have to gain the trust of the players."