Advocaat reveals his reasons

Old guard: Dick Advocaat, Bert van Lingen and Jan Wouters

Dick Advocaat has revealed that he is moving upstairs at Rangers because "four seasons as manager is long enough".

Advocaat is poised to move into a new role as director of football, with his successor in charge of team affairs being a Continental-style head coach.

Talks were being held on Tuesday with Hibernian about a compensation fee designed to take the Easter Road club's manager, Alex McLeish, to Ibrox.

Rangers chairman David Murray and Advocaat had already agreed on a new role that the Dutchman will carry out beyond the end of this season.

I am doing what is best for the club

Dick Advocaat

Advocaat told Rangers' official website: "I have decided to step down as manager because I feel that four years is enough as a manager, especially at a top club like Rangers.

"So we have to bring in a new manager and we will announce that as soon as possible and then we will announce what my role will be.

"I'm convinced that, after four years, it is the right time to change things because, after that length of time, the players have become used to the way you talk and the way you do things and it is probably better for them that there is a change.

"It's also better for myself that I do this, but it has nothing to do with the way things have been going in the last two seasons.

"I have always felt this way and David Murray knew that.

Stay too long

"In principle, I will stay at the club in the new position that has been agreed between myself and the chairman. That is my intention.

"I was four years at PSV, nearly four years here with Rangers and three years with the Dutch national team.

"So I think that is the right length of time for everyone, but - most importantly - the club itself.

"I have seen it at other clubs where a coach can stay too long and everything is affected.

"But my heart is with Rangers, so I am doing what is best for the club."