A sluggish start to the season under Martin has sparked frustration from the Ibrox diehards
15:56, 20 Aug 2025Updated 16:06, 20 Aug 2025
Steven Gerrard in a navy jacket and grey top.
(Image: UEFA via Getty Images)
Former Rangers boss Steven Gerrard has held talks with 49ers Enterprises over a key post - and could rapidly be moving back on to the Ibrox agenda.
The Liverpool icon has been persistently linked with a return to Rangers having previously lifted the Scottish Premiership during his time in Glasgow.
Before Russell Martin landed the hot seat, it's understood that Gerrard was on the shortlist of candidates for incoming owners Andrew Cavenagh and the 49ers alongside Martin and Davide Ancelotti.
But Record Sport understands that Gerrard's representatives told the new owners that he was not ready to move his family back to the UK from the Middle East after his spell at Al-Ettifaq - and pulled out of the running.
But Leeds United coach Stewart Downing has revealed that he was previously on the NFL investment wing's radar at Elland Road before they appointed Daniel Farke.
Downing told Flashscore : “I was at Leeds last year and there were a lot of rumours about him coming in there and at the time I thought Leeds would be a good fit.
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"Not too far from his home. Big club, big expectations, a bit like Rangers if you like in terms of the pressure because Leeds have a big fan base and big demands.
"I know they definitely did speak to him before Farke got the job. It was him, Scott Parker and Farke. Farke got the job probably on his experience of getting teams promoted, which has been proven right. He's done a good job there.”
The comments come with boss Martin facing increased scrutiny after a disappointed 3-1 Champions League defeat to Club Brugge at Ibrox.
The former Southampton boss has yet to win a Premiership game going into Saturday's showdown with St Mirren - before a massive week for the club.
The second leg of the £40million league phase shoot-out with Brugge on Wednesday will be following by the derby showdown with Celtic.
Oddsmakers detect the pressure reaching boiling point after some fans walked out of the Euro first leg after 21 minutes with Rangers trailing 3-0 - with Gerrard and Barry Ferguson the early frontrunners to replace Martin.
A spokesperson for AceOdds said**:** “With Russell Martin under pressure after Rangers suffered a 3-1 home defeat in their Champions League qualifier tie with Club Brugge on Tuesday night, Steven Gerrard is the favourite to return to Ibrox, according to the bookies.
“Gerrard, who led Rangers to the Scottish Premiership title in 2020/21, is the 9/4 front-runner to succeed Martin. Barry Ferguson, who was in the Rangers hot seat on an interim basis last season, is the 7/2 second-favourite while former Sheffield Wednesday manager Danny Rohl is also in contention for the job at 4/1."
Rangers head coach Russell Martin
But Ibrox icon Ally McCoist has laid the blame at the current crop of players - claiming that an "inferiority complex" has emerged in the dressing room when it comes to the title fight with Celtic.
However, he concedes the owners will have to "monitor the situation" with Martin if results don't improve.
McCoist told football betting site talkSPORT Bet: They are having a struggle to start the season.
"I don’t mind him making his views crystal clear [on the squad] and having a pop because it lets his players know in no uncertain terms what the demands are of them from him, I have no problem with that.
"They want that league title back. I don’t know whether it is a mindset within the players, it is anything but an inferiority complex, it is whether they think they can just rock up in the league and win, it is not the case.
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"He is going to have to get the new signings together, and the old core of the players that have been there, and say to them it’s all well and good getting results union Europe but if you are back in Scotland and playing against Motherwell, Dundee, whatever - these are must-win games.
"If you want to win the league, they are already four points behind Celtic after two games, he will be given time and he should be, we are just going to have to monitor the situation and hopefully get a change in the psyche and results.
"He will always be under pressure, when you manage Rangers and Celtic you always are."