There is one less candidate in the Rangers managerial race after Barry Ferguson’s time as interim boss came to an end.
A parting statement from Patrick Stewart was pretty clear about his chances of filling the role on a permanent basis and, despite seeming to think that he had a chance, the Hall of Fame legend will have to return to the studio rather than the dugout.
Davide Ancelotti remains the favourite with Steven Gerrard’s name also never far from the headlines and it wouldn’t be a surprise if these are the two frontrunners.
Both tick a lot of boxes, but tick very different boxes in terms of what the next Rangers manager needs to be.
With fan opinion split, these are the three reasons why Gerrard could return to Rangers.
Three reasons why Rangers could consider Steven Gerrard
There is no right or wrong answer when it comes to Gerrard.
The arguments for both those in favour and those against are equally as persuasive.
Gerrard knows how to win in Scotland
The obvious one is that Gerrard knows what it takes to win a league title in Scotland.
It is a different Rangers squad, but it is in better shape than the one he inherited in 2018 and the 17-point gap doesn’t tell the full story.
As seen in the Europa League and the Old Firm derbies since the Scottish Cup last season, there isn’t much between the two sides.
A few quality additions, the right tactical approach and a leader with the right mindset could be all that is needed to close that gap.
Gerrard would offer on pitch stability as club goes through changes off the pitch
Stability. A word that has been absent both on and off the pitch in recent years.
Changing manager every season increases the likelihood of injuries and changing tactics doesn’t help the players either.
With boardroom changes, new owners and Kevin Thelwell on board as sporting director, Rangers might look to Gerrard as a safe pair of hands in the short term.
In terms of risk, he is probably the most attractive out of the available options.
He knows the club, the league, how to beat Celtic and the nuances of a Sunday lunchtime trip to Dingwall.
Gerrard would command respect
Gerrard might not be a tactical genius or have had any success at either of the clubs he has been in charge of since leaving Rangers, but he still has the sort of personality and charisma that demands respect.
When he first arrived at Rangers, Ibrox was a mess, as was Auchenhowie, and he helped to drive these changes.
This time around, he wouldn’t have to.
With the right coaching team, he could be the figurehead that the club needs.
