Outgoing Rangers manager Steven Gerrard has left the Ibrox support torn following his exit to Aston Villa and his first interview with the club hasn’t helped matters.
The Liverpool legend is back in the Premier League with the Birmingham outfit but the nature of his exit has left a sour taste in the mouth of plenty of Rangers supporters.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cAuczwF2-ac
Only a matter of weeks before Gerrard jumped ship he was proclaiming his happiness at Ibrox and – rather uncouthly – swatting off questions from journalists.
But by the manager’s own admission – in his first official on-camera interview since joining Aston Villa – everything happened so quickly.
“It was crazy and it was very quick,” said Gerrard [Aston Villa TV].
“I was first aware of Aston Villa’s interest on the Wednesday, I had a call from my representation.
“And when the phone call sunk in, I wanted this to happen very quickly because, first and foremost, the opportunity was too big.
“From there, it happened really, really quickly. Credit to Aston Villa, the speed they got things done and not just with me, but with my staff that I’m bringing with me as well.
“But I must also pay respect to Rangers, they were very professional in the deals as well.
“It was very crazy, very quick but when you’re in that situation that’s what you want to happen.
“The last thing you want is for it to drag out because you want to get in as quick as you can and start working as fast as you can.”
Gerrard, 41, might’ve helped rebuild the Ibrox side and there is no doubt the club is in a better place than when Stevie G joined. With a title in the bag, the manager’s contribution was monumental.
But the nature of Gerrard’s exit and the conversation surrounding life at Rangers has fans a tad salty over the manager’s decision to quit Ibrox, something made worse by the notion he couldn’t get out of Ibrox quick enough.
These quotes suggest that Gerrard jumped wen the Villa opportunity reared its head and – unsurprisingly – the interview hasn’t gone down great with Gers fans:
https://twitter.com/tony18722021/status/1460263588417916934
https://twitter.com/divrome/status/1460202127779930122
https://twitter.com/boxing_rugby/status/1460205456681578499
https://twitter.com/iankennedy29/status/1460206927049285632
There’s still been no real explanation for supporters and whilst this is an AVTV interview there’s something to be said for how quick Steven Gerrard is eager to move on from Ibrox.
For a group of supporters who idolised him – and are fundamentally grateful for the job him and his staff did – it’s beginning to look like a strange way to treat them.
The search goes on for a new manager with one former Rangers player making an admission over the manager’s job over the weekend.