Ally McCoist urges Rangers to bring back Steven Gerrard and demands answers from board
Ally McCoist has openly questioned the Rangers board about the circumstances that led to Steven Gerrard withdrawing from consideration for a dramatic return to Ibrox. Gerrard, a former manager who famously ended Celtic’s pursuit of ten consecutive league titles, recently held talks with club executives Andrew Cavenagh and Paraag Marathe in London. Despite initial excitement among fans eager to see him replace the recently dismissed Russell Martin, Gerrard ultimately decided not to pursue a second spell at the club.
The team’s current struggles have added urgency to the search for a new manager, having managed just one league win in seven matches and suffering consecutive defeats in the Europa League following Champions League disappointment. With a major cup semi-final against Celtic looming, speculation has intensified regarding potential candidates. Names such as Danny Rohl, Kevin Muscat, and Derek McInnes continue to surface, while Paul Scholes has hinted at Ole Gunnar Solskjaer meeting with the club’s hierarchy.
However, for McCoist, the key issue remains Gerrard’s decision to step away. Speaking on the talkSPORT Breakfast Show, McCoist said: “The Steven thing was a disappointment clearly, but it is an interesting one though. I would interested to know what changed Steven’s mind or what didn’t convince him. I said yesterday, family takes priority over everything, so I am thinking to myself ‘is it maybe a financial thing?’ But the more I think about it, if it was that, he wouldn’t have came for the interview in the first place would he? He would have just said it is impossible. So either they haven’t sold him it, or I would suggest something has happened in the interview process that hasn’t taken his fancy.”
When co-host Jeff Sterling suggested Rangers should consider a better offer if Gerrard was truly their preferred candidate, McCoist admitted his curiosity about what could sway the former manager. He added: “Of course it is and I am intrigued to know what that offer would be. I don’t think it is a financial problem. That would be my guess. Maybe he doesn’t fancy the squad, maybe he doesn’t fancy working with whoever is there or maybe he has been told there is no money or something has happened we don’t know about. But I think something has happened.”
McCoist also reflected on the challenges clubs face maintaining secrecy in the modern era, noting, “The unfortunate thing is, in today’s world of social media as much as anything, it is very, very difficult to keep your business under wraps. In an ideal world, if you can keep that under wraps until the last minute, brilliant. But it just doesn’t happen nowadays for whatever reason, so you do leave yourself open to a little criticism the way it has happened, but I do have a great degree of sympathy in terms of Rangers not getting Steven. I would be interested to know the real reasons for him saying no or turning it down.”
Looking ahead, McCoist stressed the significance of the club’s next appointment, emphasizing the need for a figure who truly understands Rangers’ culture and identity. “Listen, I am a Rangers man and it is still a very lucrative and important job but I will say it again, it is vitally important they get it right this time. I genuinely would like to see somebody with a strong Rangers connection, who knows the club and just gets it, in and around it.”
