Davie Provan: Gerrard owes Rangers nothing after sudden exit
Rangers are searching for a new manager after Steven Gerrard unexpectedly left for Aston Villa on Thursday after three years at Ibrox.
Several names have been linked with the Light Blues job since the 41-year-old walked away, and Davie Provan has told chairman Douglas Park he cannot afford to get his decision wrong.
Given their recent financial losses, Rangers need to retain the Scottish Premiership title in order to clinch a place in the group stages of the Champions League next season.
Achieving that would be huge, and Provan is hoping Gerrard’s sudden exit does not derail their momentum.
The Sky Sports pundit told Scottish Sun: “If the timing of his departure was spot on for Gerrard, it leaves Rangers with their trousers down.
“For all the talk flying about of Gerrard moving south, I doubt Douglas Park and his board saw this coming.
“If Park understands football, he’ll know the Ibrox dressing room will be badly affected by the defection. Gerrard will be a hard act to follow.
“Does Park go for a John Terry or Frank Lampard type or the tried and trusted experience of Derek McInnes?
“Will Callum Davidson’s loaves and fishes trick put him in the frame? Or is bookies’ favourite Giovanni van Bronckhorst already in the winner’s enclosure?
“Park is up against the clock to find the right man and, with £40m riding on this season’s title, this is one call he has to get right.”
Absolutely
The Bears suffered a £23.5million loss last term, on top of the £15.9million loss posted for 2019-20, and winning the league is the best way for them to prevent cashing in on their biggest players next summer.
They currently lead Celtic with just four points, but that is not enough with plenty of games still to play, and the next manager has a huge job on his hands.
There is no guarantee that Gerrard’s successor will hit the ground running at Ibrox, but that needs to happen for the sake of everyone.
Van Bronckhorst is expected to become the club’s next boss, and his achievements at Feyenoord are impressive.
The Rangers hero won the Eredivisie with them in 2016-17, adding two KNVB Cups and Johan Cruyff Shields to his name before leaving for Guangzhou City last year.
He has proven what he is capable of doing in the Dutch top-flight, and will become a fans favourite again if he ends up helping his old side retain the title.
In other Rangers news, the Bears are plotting January swoop for teenage striking sensation, five PL clubs in pursuit too.