Davie Provan has told Rangers fans to “get real” about the possibility of boss Steven Gerrard staying at the club in the long-term.
He says that if the Liverpool job ever became vacant, then Gerrard should be a realistic candidate to take over – and believes that him taking the Gers jon is just an “audition” to get a better gig in England, just like Brendan Rodgers has done.
Provan remarked on how the fans need to be realisitic about Gerrard and the likelihood of him staying at the club in the long-term, adding that he needs to leave before the “ten in a row” situation arises.
“If [Jurgen] Klopp left for the Bernabeu, Gerrard would have to be in the mix for the Liverpool job. Not enough experience? Well, the last time the Reds picked a boss on the back of a stellar playing career it was Kenny Dalglish who became player-manager in 1985,” he said in his Scottish Sun column.
“Let’s just say he’d be given every chance by a support who still worship the ground he walks on. Goodwill goes a long way in football and Gerrard would have it by the shedload on Merseyside. Rangers fans who believe Gerrard will do a long shift at Ibrox need to get real. Like Rodgers, his work in Glasgow is an audition for a better job in England.
“And if timing is everything in football management, Stevie G should get out of town before the ten in a row circus arrives. With Old Firm punters already barking at the moon, what can we expect when Celtic get within touching distance of that milestone?
“Sorry, but I reckon Gerrard is too wise to cast himself in that movie. Will he want to be remembered as the patsy who failed to stop the Hoops?”
OPINION
This type of opinion is not going to go down very well with the Rangers at all, is it? They are no doubt grateful for the job Gerrard has done in his first season in management, and the last thing they would want to hear is about him leaving for the likes of Liverpool. He has managed to get the Gers in with a shout of the title and the possibility of winning the Scottish Cup is very real – but it is easy to see where Provan is coming from. Surely there are not many Rangers fans who think that Gerrard is going to stay with them in the long term? Of course not – he is just getting started on what could be a very successful career in management. There is no doubting that he is going to stay at the club for a few more seasons, but what would actually happen if Real Madrid managed to lure Klopp away from Anfield? It would be hard not to envision him being in the mix for the job, so Provan is right to send Rangers fans a direct message by stating they do need to start getting realistic.