The managing director of a leading Scottish footballing radio show has claimed that members of the Rangers hierarchy were “happy” to see the back of the outgoing Steven Gerrard.
Stevie G leaves Ibrox after three-and-a-half years at the club with the abrupt nature of his exit to Aston Villa stinging supporters almost as much as the lack of justification for doing so.
A fantastic opportunity yes, but the notion Villa are anywhere near as big as Rangers is one only challenged by the club’s admittedly storied history and their Premier League status.
PLZ Soccer host and the company’s managing director Peter Martin has been discussing the story in a column for the website.
Ever since the news broke there’s been a genuine split between the support regarding Mr Gerrard but according to Martin, within Ibrox the news hasn’t been met with quite so much sadness.
“The former Rangers manager left Ibrox on Thursday with bags packed and no emotional goodbye to the assembled squad,” writes Martin.
“There may well have been the odd individual call to players worthy of his thanks, but when the deal was done at Villa, Stevie G and his backroom team were off from the stepping stone of the Scottish Premiership quicker than you could sing ‘Walk on.’
“I am told that within the corridors of power at Ibrox, there wasn’t the level of tears and despair shown by some fans who couldn’t believe he would do such a thing to a club the size of Rangers for the minnows of Aston Villa.
“In fact, I am led to believe some people were happy to see the back of him, but you won’t hear that word spoken for a long time until someone within the boardroom decides to lift the lid on Gerrard’s three-and-a-half year reign in Glasgow.”
There will be some who meet this news with a healthy dose of skepticism and others that view it as a reason why Gerrard’s exit was so particularly swift.
But whatever the case the Liverpool legend is now Aston Villa boss and Rangers must move on to find a new manager quickly.
Rangers fans have been bemoaning their former manager for his first interview with new side Aston Villa as fans try to better understand the motivations behind the exit.
