Steven Gerrard sends hard-hitting 'I'm not a magician' Rangers stance over return snub in eye-opening interview
The title-winning former Ibrox boss bailed on a return to Govan as Russell Martin’s replacement prior to Danny Rohl’s appointment
Steven Gerrard is confident he could “make Rangers good again” but hinted he didn’t have the “rights tools” to do so after talks over a sensational return to Ibrox broke down earlier this year.
The Liverpool icon jetted in from the Middle East to hold showdown discussions with the Light Blues’ new American owners in London following Russell Martin’s dismissal.
Gerrard, who lifted the club’s 55th Premiership title in 2021 and ended Celtic’s stranglehold on Scottish football, emerged as the clear front-runner for the post before he decided to walk away from negotiations following several meetings with chairman Andrew Cavenagh and Paraag Marathe of 49ers Enterprises.
Now the former England international has made a brutal admission over his close call as he opened up on the situation in a face-to-face interview with Gers legend Ally McCoist after it was suggested he had nagging doubts that forced him to withdraw from the process.
Steven Gerrard hints at why he snubbed a return to Rangers
TNT Sports released a teaser of a sit-down discussion between the pair in the soon-to-be-released new episode of ‘Ally’s Social Club’ in which Gerrard hints he wasn’t given certain assurances and that the main reason could have been around the personnel in place behind the scenes.
US tycoon Cavenagh later took the decision to sack sporting sporting director Kevin Thelwell and CEO Patrick Stewart after they oversaw the club’s ill-fated appointment of Martin and shoddy summer recruitment drive.
Gerrard told McCoist: “It’s not that I didn’t fancy it. Rangers is obviously you’re club more than it is my club, but I’ve got a special affinity and a feeling for Rangers now.
“I want to help that club, but you have to have the right tools and you have to have the right opportunity to help that club because I know how difficult it is, I understand when you put that on your neck and your shoulders how heavy it is and you know that more than anyone else.
“If you get the right tools, I've got the confidence in myself that I can make Rangers good again. But, if I'm not surrounded by the right people, haven't got the right tools, I'm not a magician.”
Gerrard: ‘It felt a bit rushed’
In a previous interview, Gerrard had revealed he was very close to a return to Rangers but was left uncertain by certain factors.
“In terms of Rangers, very close,” he stated. “I had some really positive and interesting talks with the owners. I had some really positive and interesting talks with the owners, but it felt a bit rushed. I had a lot to think about and a short space of time to make a decision.
“There were a few things I was uncertain about. And if I'm going to take a challenge that big and that important - I've got that affection and connection with Rangers - for me to take that on again, it had to be perfect and I had to be 100% ready.
“Unfortunately I wasn't due to the timing, so I stepped aside. They've got a fantastic manager now and I wish them all the best. My heart was 100 per cent there because I have the connection with the club.”
Gerrard would jump at Liverpool return in any capacity
Gerrard has been out of work since leaving Saudi Pro League side Al-Ettifaq in the midst of a disappointing season last term.
Rumours have swirled that he could make a return to Anfield as an interim replacement for Arne Slot and Gerrard confirmed the Reds would be tough to turn down.
He admitted: “I’ll be brutally, brutally honest with you. I’d help Liverpool in any department at any minute of every day. I’d help them with anything.”