London, May 1 (IANS): Glasgow Rangers' interim head coach Graeme Murty has stepped down following the team's 0-5 thrashing at the hands of bitter rivals Celtic FC, the Scottish club confirmed on Tuesday.

Murty had been in temporary charge since Pedro Caixinha's departure in October, and was under contract until the end of the season, reports Efe news agency.

"Graeme Murty has this morning been relieved of his duties as manager of Rangers," a club statement said.

"Rangers are grateful to Graeme, who did not hesitate when asked last October to become interim manager after the departure of Pedro Caixinha and then, at the turn of the year, when he was offered the role as manager until the end of the season."

Assistant coach Jimmy Nicholl and Jonatan Johansson will take charge of the team for the remainder of the season, the statement added.

Sunday's heavy defeat allowed the Hoops to seal the Scottish league title for the seventh consecutive season, and leaves the Rangers in third place behind Aberdeen with three games left.

There has been widespread speculation in the British media that the club is in talks with former Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard, who has been a youth coach at his former club since retiring from the LA Galaxy in 2016.