Football Spy: Burley's No.1 in Ibrox pick.

Byline: EXCLUSIVE by JAMES NURSEY

GEORGE BURLEY is being lined up as Rangers' next boss if the Scottish giants axe Alex McLeish.

With Rangers fourth in the SPL, 12 points behind arch-rivals Celtic, McLeish's position at Ibrox is under intense scrutiny. And after their latest slip-up against Aberdeen - a home 0-0 draw, Rangers' board have put former Hearts manager Burley at the top of their list of possible successors.

Burley (above), 49, is out of work following his extraordinary sacking from Hearts last month.

But despite the Scot's acrimonious fall-out with the Tynecastle club's Lithuanian owner, Vladimir Romanov, Burley is held in high esteem north of the border.

Burley, who only joined Hearts in the summer, guided the Jambos to top spot with a 12-game unbeaten run before being harshly dumped.

But Burley remains keen for a quick return to management once he agrees a compensation package with Hearts.

And the revelation of Rangers' interest will further undermine McLeish, already unpopular with many of the club's demanding fans.

The 46-year-old, who took over from Dick Advocaat in 2001, has won the title twice.

But Rangers have performed poorly in Europe and are a long way off the pace in the SPL.