Steve Evans grudgingly admits Rangers are top eight British club with Celtic amid Leeds United interest in Ange Postecoglou
Steve Evans has grudgingly admitted that Rangers are a huge British club alongside his beloved Celtic as he told Ange Postecoglou not to go to Leeds United.
The Hoops boss has been linked to the vacant manager’s job at Elland Road following the sacking of Jesse Marsch on Monday (6 February), but the Glasgow-born Stevenage boss, who himself has managed Leeds before, insisted the Australian should stay in the SPFL for now.
In making his case for Postecoglou to stay at Celtic Park Evans declared the Gers’ Old Firm rivals are one of the six or eight biggest clubs in Britain, before accepting that the Light Blues are too.
Evans told The Sun of the Hoops boss: “Yes, I think he’ll eventually work in the Premier League although I don’t see it being now and I don’t see it being for Leeds United.
“But I regard them as one of the top six to eight clubs in British football.
“Without a shadow of a doubt. Celtic are one of them and, it pains me to say, Rangers are also one of them.
“I was very proud to be manager of Leeds United and that pride will be inside me until the day I leave this world.
“But I’m also a hugely proud Celtic supporter. Do I want Ange to go? No.”
North South divide
Neither side of the Glasgow derby are strangers to managers jumping at the chance to move to the English Premier League.
Steven Gerrard left for Aston Villa last season just as Brendan Rodgers went to Leicester four years ago, and plenty of Rangers fans wouldn’t mind seeing their rivals destabilised by Postecoglou heading for Leeds.
It seems unlikely at this point, so the growing rivalry between him and Michael Beale will instead continue for the time being.
Scottish football might be overlooked in England a lot of the time, but the size, the history, and the success of the two sides of Glasgow cannot be ignored.
The departure of Gerrard to Villa Park didn’t work out for either clubs or the man himself, as the Giovanni van Bronckhorst era saw the club regress domestically, notwithstanding the Europa League run, whiole the title-winning manager was sacked less than a year into his time as a Premier League boss.
Postecoglou will continue to be linked to other jobs if he maintains his lead at the SPFL, and when he does eventually leave it will be a major opportunity at Ibrox to retake top spot in Scotland.
In other Rangers news, there is “no certainty” that a much-needed Bears transfer goes through.