Revealed: The real reason Steven Gerrard snubbed Rangers return
Rangers have hit another stumbling block in their attempts to find a replacement for Russell Martin after talks with Steven Gerrard collapsed.
Football Insider revealed on 10 October that Rangers had held positive talks with Gerrard about taking over and planned to accelerate his appointment.
This came less than a week after Martin was sacked following Rangers’ draw against Falkirk as the board aim to bring in his replacement during the international break.
However, those talks eventually fell through and they will not be pushing ahead with plans for his return to Ibrox, four years after he left to join Aston Villa.
Instead, they have been made to set their sights on alternative options, after Football Insider revealed on 6 October that Rangers have a four-man managerial shortlist.
Steven Gerrard wanted to be convinced of Rangers’ ambitions
Football Insider revealed on 10 October that the Rangers job was Gerrard’s to lose as they closed in on appointing their next permanent manager.
There had been suggestions of concerns on Rangers’ side about Gerrard’s return prior to their talks at Ibrox, but they dismissed any issues and opted to press ahead.
However, as I explained on the latest edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, the boss wanted to be convinced it Rangers could match his ambitions before accepting an offer, and instead will assess his options for a return to management elsewhere.
Speaking on the Inside Track podcast, I explained: “Yeah, think those concerns were minimal. I think a lot of it was to do due to his situation in Saudi and everything else.
“Gerrard came out publicly on a podcast saying that he feels he has unfinished business in management and he is now more ready than he has been in recent times to return to the dugout.
“But he needed to be convinced that it’s the right project for him.
“He needed to see that the ambitions of Rangers match his own as well, because I don’t think he will take anything lightly in these talks.
“He would need to be convinced that it’s the right job for him, or he might be content to sit and wait to see what other opportunities come along later on in the year or next season.”
At one stage, it appeared the Rangers job was Gerrard’s to lose, but they will not be forced to look in another direction despite their positive talks.
Danny Rohl and Derek McInnes on Rangers’ shortlist
Gerrard appeared to be the leading name on Rangers’ managerial shortlist, with Sean Dyche, Danny Rohl and Kevin Muscat also on their radar.
After Dyche also dropped out of the race, Football Insider revealed that Rohl is high on Rangers’ list, alongside Derek McInnes, who has long been admired at Ibrox.
Rohl has been out of a job since leaving Sheffield Wednesday during the summer as a result of the ongoing uncertainty under Dejphon Chansiri‘s ownership.
Former Man United chief scout Mick Brown told Football Insider on 6 October that Rohl is open to taking the Rangers job despite having missed out previously.
Brown first told Football Insider in May that Rohl was interested replacing Philippe Clement at Rangers as he prepared to quit Sheffield Wednesday, but he ultimately missed out to Martin.
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