Ally McCoist: Gerrard has left bad taste in fans’ mouth with exit manner
Steven Gerrard has angered Rangers fans following his manner of exit, and Ally McCoist believes it has left a bad taste in their mouths.
The 41-year-old joined Aston Villa on Thursday after more than three years at Ibrox, but not a lot of people saw it coming after he slammed reporters asking him about the Newcastle United links last month.
Nevertheless, McCoist insists Gerrard achieved a lot by guiding Rangers to the title last term, suggesting the achievement helps solidify his Ibrox legacy.
“What Steven achieved was arguably the most important title for Rangers fans in the last 25-30 years,” McCoist said on talkSPORT (as shown on their Twitter account).
“That’s how important it was, make no mistake about that. Stopping Celtic doing 10 was, is high on the list as you can possibly get. But, brutally honest, there is a bad taste in some of the supporters’ mouths about the way it’s happened.
“Particularly after that interview you just played. Emma asked the question, as she should, that’s her job. The answer kind of implied: ‘I’m going nowhere’. I think we can all agree on that.
“He was very forthright, bordering on answering Emma in a fashion like: ‘It’s a silly question, I’m absolutely going nowhere’. And maybe two weeks later, he clearly has gone somewhere.
“So I can totally understand the frustration and disappointment, and maybe anger with some of the Rangers fans. However, like I said, you cannot argue the fact that Steven delivered the most important title in a long, long, long time for Rangers.”
Hero?
While Gerrard did not leave the club as a legend, he definitely leaves as a hero after going unbeaten last season and ending Celtic’s dominance.
He failed to guide them to the Champions League group stages and he did not win the Scottish League Cup or Scottish Cup, but the emotions should not tarnish the good job he did.
Gerrard made some incredible additions to the squad and helped get the best out of a lot of players.
His successor is inheriting a squad capable of retaining the title and winning the other domestic trophies, and that is something he must praised for.
He could not turn down the Villa job for a lot of reasons, but he had a decision to make and nobody should fault him for choosing what he deems best for his career.
Gerrard should have done better with the timing and manner of his exit, but it appears he had no control over it, and everyone has to move on like he has done.
In other Rangers news, the Bears are plotting January swoop for teenage striking sensation, five PL clubs in pursuit too.