Ally McCoist says talk of a Steven Gerrard return to Rangers is ‘pie in the sky’ because he’s happy in Saudi Arabia.
But the Ibrox hero believes, either way, it’s time to stand by Philippe Clement rather than look elsewhere. Gerrard was linked with a return to Glasgow during the international break when Clement found himself under severe pressure following their 3-0 defeat to Celtic. The Liverpool icon remains the last Rangers boss to win the league title, with Gio van Bronckhorst and Michael Beale falling on their swords, and Clement so far unable to make up the ground.
However the ‘Clement out, Gerrard in’ whispers have gone a little quiet since domestic football returned with three straight wins for Gers, including Thursday’s Europa League success in Malmo. Gerrard, meanwhile, has started the season well in Saudi Arabia, his Al-Ettifaq team winning three out of four. And McCoist just can’t see a return on the cards in the foreseeable.
He told Sportsmole: “The Steven Gerrard thing, of course it would appeal to a lot of the supporters because Steven obviously won the title here, and it was an exceptional season when they went through undefeated. I’ve got to be brutally honest with you, Steven Gerrard looks very, very happy to me where he is at this current moment in time.
“I can’t see it happening at all. I actually think that’s pie in the sky. I would be staggered if that would happen. I know it would appeal to a lot of the supporters, and I get that. But at this moment in time, I think the man currently in the job has been backed, and I think we’ve all got to get behind him. I genuinely think that’s the case. I feel for him at this moment in time.
“I don’t think there’s any money left for him to bring his own players in so I think he’s effectively in a position where he’s having to play the cards that he’s been dealt.”