WATCH – Former Limerick FC manager Stuart Taylor looking forward to Rangers Coaching role

Former Limerick FC manager Stuart Taylor has been appointed to the coaching staff of Scottish club Rangers. Graham Murty was appointed as first-team manager on a full-time basis last week and has begun to implement his backroom team as a busy new year ensues. Taylor will assist both Billy Kirkwood and club legend Peter Lovenkrands in coaching the club’s development squad for the foreseeable future.

Rangers’ Head of Academy Craig Mulholland cited Taylor’s time at Aston Villa and more recently Wolves as the big reason that the club were keen to appoint him. “Stuart Taylor is someone we have been watching for some time and we interviewed him as part of an extensive recruitment process 18 months ago when we appointed Graeme Murty. We have been tracking his career since then. A former player in the SPFL Premiership, it is his work in the last few years as Aston Villa’s U-23 coach, where he initiated some innovative ideas, and as first team coach at Wolves in the Championship which has attracted us to him.”

While Taylor has said that he won’t be forcing too many changes in the early stages of his tenure. “There has been a good foundation set in, it’s just going to be a case of continuing that trend until the end of the season and maybe tweaking one or two things if needs be.”

Taylor was a journeyman midfielder who played with a number of clubs including Scottish sides St. Mirren and Hamilton Academical. Before appearing on Irish shores as a manager, the Scot had a brief spell as a player with Drogheda United in the 2002/2003 season which lasted just one year.

Stuart Taylor was Limerick FC manager for 18 months having been appointed in January 2013 to manage the club upon their first appearance back in the Airtricity League Premier Division for 19 years. Many felt that Pat Scully had been harshly treated by the club as he was replaced following promotion from the first division. However, Taylor’s signings sparked huge optimism as respected overseas players Danny Galbraith, Craig Curran and Robbie Williams joined the club. Under Taylor’s guidance, Limerick finished the season in 6th place and a comfortable top-half finish.

Midway through the 2014 season, Taylor left the club following unsatisfactory results and Martin Russell was appointed to replace him. Surprisingly, he was appointed as coach of the under-23 side at English Premiership club Aston Villa by manager Paul Lambert. After Lambert was removed, he took Taylor to Wolves as first-team manager. Since departing Shannonside, the former Limerick manager has enjoyed a fruitful coaching career. Undoubtedly, his CV is now impressive with Aston Villa, Rangers and Wolves among his past and present employers.

Watch below as Taylor speaks to Rangers TV about his new role.