Rangers have a 13-point lead over Celtic in the league table and are now the firm favourites to win the Scottish Premiership this season, stopping the Bhoys’ ten-in-a-row charge.
The Glasgow giants have pushed their limits to back Steven Gerrard since he arrived at Ibrox and have stomached a financial risk to try to return the club to the summit of the Scottish game.
And McManus insisted that is about to pay off this season if they win the league and get the keys to the riches of the Champions League next season.
He also stressed that Rangers have some very good saleable assets in their playing squad as well and feels they are more competitive now than they have been in the last decade.
Asked if Rangers are on the cusp of wrestling the power away from Celtic, McManus said on PLZ Soccer: “That could be true.
“Rangers are obviously in the ascendancy right now, I think they have had major backing and I think their gamble is going to pay off.
“They have thrown everything at winning the league this season, they gambled everything and went all in.
“And it looks like it is going to pay off.
“If they get into the Champions League, the money they invested they would get it back.
“They have obviously got players in there who they can sell for good money as well.
“Now Rangers are now in a very healthy position, which they haven’t been for five or six years.
“I don’t think it is a changing of the guard, but certainly they are more competitive now than they have ever been in the last ten years.”
Scotland will have two places in next season’s Champions League with the champions entering the competition in the third qualifying round.
