BILLY DODDS reckons the Rangers board have got their priorities wrong as the Light Blues close in on a director of football.

As revealed in SportTimes last week, former Gers midfielder Christian Nerlinger has emerged as the front-runner to land the newly-created position and has held talks with chief executive Graham Wallace over a surprise return.

But with the financial situation unclear and only around 17,000 season tickets sold, Dodds, left, reckons the timing of the 41-year-old's arrival is wrong. He told SportTimes: "It is a job, if Rangers are having financial problems again, that doesn't need to be there. It is not a priority for Rangers to get someone like Christian in.

"I played with him and he is a great lad but I don't see why this is a priority just now, to be honest.

"With the season ticket stuff going on, there are bigger issues at Rangers. The fans must be thinking 'this is another job we don't need'.

"It is weird at Rangers just now. They need to sort the biggest problems, get some stability and financial clout behind them again.

"We have seen these types of jobs before but the timing of it is strange for me."

Wallace announced his intention to appoint a 'chief football operations officer' in his business review earlier this year and appears to be getting nearer handing Nerlinger the top job.

The German spent four injury-plagued seasons at Ibrox during his playing career but has forged a reputation off the field during a spell in the corridors of power at Bayern Munich.

And former Light Blues forward Dodds knows the new man's relationship with boss Ally McCoist would be key if his return to Ibrox was to be a success.

He said: "I was at Rangers when Christian was there and he was a quiet boy.

"Since retiring, he has made a good name for himself at Bayern Munich and it is interesting to see him linked with Rangers now.

"Ally has had problems with boards in the past, the people have changed all the time and he has had to deal with so many different people.

"Christian is a good lad but when he was at Rangers I didn't see him going down this route and going into the business side of the game.

"However, he has obviously proven himself at Bayern. It will be interesting to see how it works with Ally. He probably won't know how it will work just yet.

"I wouldn't like it as a manager if you get told you had to sign someone or other. If it happens, they will have to work together."