Ally McCoist urges Steven Gerrard to snub Villa job because of his Liverpool dream
Ally McCoist has urged Rangers boss Steven Gerrard to snub the Aston Villa job in order to boost his chances of becoming Liverpool manager.
The 41-year-old dreams of being in the dugout at Anfield someday, but the Villains are keen on luring him away from Ibrox after sacking Dean Smith on Sunday.
McCoist insists the chance to manage in the English top-flight is tempting, but he wants Gerrard to remain with Rangers and keep developing his skills so as to be ready when his old club comes calling.
“He wants the Liverpool job, right? What if he goes to Aston Villa and it doesn’t work out?” McCoist told the talkSPORT Breakfast (as shown on their official Twitter account).
“He’s got a better chance of success at Rangers than he has at Aston Villa, if he wants the Liverpool job.
“If he goes to Aston Villa and it doesn’t work out, he is not going to get the Liverpool job. If he stays at Rangers, he’s won the league, retain the league, goes straight to the Champions League, great success, and he’s got a better chance of the Liverpool job.
“It could be a good stepping stone if he went to Villa. I just think there are risks. I thought Dean Smith might have earned himself more time. However, we know how cutthroat football can be, and he’s another that has got the guillotine as a football manager.
“I can understand it, but if I was Steven, I wouldn’t do it. I’d stay where I was.”
Tempting?
Managing in the Premier League remains a very attractive proposition despite the risks attached, and there is no doubt the link is tempting Gerrard.
Villa could be staring at relegation in the face in the coming months, but they have wealthy owners who are more than ready to break the bank in January just to keep their side up.
Rangers have struggled financially to get their boss the type of players he needs to challenge in Europe, but that is not going to be a problem at Villa Park.
They dream of breaking into the top-six and will be backing their next manager to boost their chances of doing so.
McCoist is realistic enough to see why anyone would be tempted to leave Rangers for Villa, and Gerrard could be keen on taking such a risk.
Should things go right, it would further enhance his reputation and put him firmly in the frame to succeed Jurgen Klopp.
The Bears boss is in a tough spot at the moment, and it will be interesting to see his final decision.
In other Rangers news, the Bears are plotting January swoop for teenage striking sensation, five PL clubs in pursuit too.