The 55-winning hero was the frontrunner for the hot seat before pulling out last weekend
Steven Gerrard(Image: Getty Images)
Out of work Steven Gerrard had three key reasons behind rejecting Rangers amid their search for a new manager.
The title-winning Ibrox boss Gerrard was the man US owners Andrew Cavenagh and 49ers Enterprises were keen on bringing in to replace Russell Martin.
The Liverpool icon was the fan favourite for a return – but after two days of talks in London, Gerrard pulled out of the running.
Former Sheffield Wednesday boss Danny Rohl and Shanghai Port gaffer Kevin Muscat are now leading the race for the vacant hot seat.
But Gerrard’s reasoning behind turning down the chance to return to Glasgow has now surfaced.
Record Sport reported on Saturday night that Gerrard ultimately decided that the timing wasn’t right – which is part of the decision-making from the former Aston Villa and Al-Ettifaq boss.
Now talkSPORT note that had “some reservations” about “working under the current Rangers sporting structure” after face-to-face talks – which is led by sporting director Kevin Thelwell.
The call is not said to be “personal” against Thelwell – who arrived from Everton in the summer – but due to Gerrard hoping for “more autonomy” in a similar vein to his first time in the Ibrox dugout.
It also noted that Gerrard was cautious about the prospect of turning Rangers around mid-season.
Steven Gerrard won Rangers a league title in first spell
The club are languishing in eighth spot in the Scottish Premiership and the next manager faces major pressure to revive a dismal campaign.
And Gerrard “wants to bide his time” and “would be more inclined to take a job over a summer when he’s got a full season ahead of him.”
Gerrard’s decision reportedly “caught some within Rangers’ senior hierarchy by surprise” and sent them back to “square one” with their bid to replace Martin before the league campaign restarts after the international break.
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