FORMER Rangers boss Mark Warburton has pitched a cross-Atlantic partnership with Celtic.
The 62-year-old has landed a job as sporting director and head of soccer for new USL franchise Sporting Club Jacksonville.
Mark Warburton is loving life in the States[/caption]
He hopes Celtic or Rangers will get involved[/caption]
And Warburton says he would be keen to explore linking up with the Hoops or his old club Rangers.
The Englishman told SunSport: “Every club in the world is looking for bigger recruitment talent, bigger player pools.
“It’s about creating player pathways.
“I can see how partnerships work and, of course, any partnership has to be two ways.
“When you talk about major British clubs, Rangers and Celtic are global institutions with global fan bases.
“So absolutely, you would be very fortunate to partner with these types of clubs. It’s only a matter of time before it’s taken forward.”
Warburton bossed Gers from 2015 to 2017, and won the Championship in his first season.
Since his controversial exit from Ibrox — when he claimed he was sacked, while directors insisted he resigned — he has managed Nottingham Forest and QPR.
He was also part of David Moyes’ West Ham backroom team when they won the Uefa Conference League.
Now the ex-Brentford boss has landed a role at Sporting Jax alongside president and CEO Steve Livingstone.
Warburton will lead all aspects of the men’s, women’s and youth teams and appoint the Florida club’s head coaches
He added: “It’s an incredibly exciting opportunity for me in a city desperate for soccer.
“I’ve signed a long-term contract and I want to play a pivotal role.
“It’s men’s and women’s professional, it’s an elite academy too.
“I can build the staff and set the environment for everyone. The talent pool is quite staggering, both for the men’s and women’s teams.
“The former Hearts manager Robbie Neilson is already over here at Tampa Bay.
“I’ve been fortunate to visit the colleges and the universities and the quality of player coming through is staggering.
“It’s such a vast area and clubs back in the UK can’t have one scout each state. Some states alone are bigger than half of Europe.
“There are very exciting players and I’m sure many of them will make the move to the biggest clubs.
“There’s a huge soccer community in Jacksonville and in terms of talent-pool and brand growth, I recognise that opportunity for British clubs and others around the world.
“It is a very interesting proposition and one I believe clubs will be looking at more and more.
“I’ve worked for some magnificent clubs, like Rangers. That was a great privilege and it’s prepared me for anything.
“One of the added major attractions being here now is that we’ve got the Fifa Club World Cup coming up between June and July, and then the World Cup in 2026.”
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