Rangers draw up new manager shortlist after Steven Gerrard rejection | OneFootball

Rangers have drawn up a new shortlist of managerial candidates after Steven Gerrard officially ruled himself out of returning to Ibrox, deepening the club’s ongoing search for stability, BBC Sport reports.

Gerrard, who guided Rangers to the 2021 Scottish Premiership title before departing for Aston Villa, held preliminary talks with the club last week following the dismissal of Russell Martin, but opted against a comeback, reportedly due to the timing and scope of the project under the club’s new ownership.

The Ibrox hierarchy, led by chairman Andrew Cavanagh and the incoming US-based consortium, is now believed to be considering multiple candidates, though high-profile names such as Graham Potter, Gary O’Neil, and Michael Carrick are no longer in contention. Former Sheffield Wednesday manager Danny Röhl is among those understood to have spoken to the club, though no appointment is imminent.

Rangers’ search for a new head coach comes at a turbulent time. The club has made a disastrous start to the season, eighth in the Premiership, with just one win from seven games, and was thrashed 9-1 on aggregate by Club Brugge in the Champions League play-offs.

Martin’s brief tenure lasted only 17 matches and five wins in all competitions, leaving the club 11 points adrift of leaders Hearts and facing mounting pressure from an increasingly restless support.

Rangers will next face Dundee United, who visit Ibrox next weekend.

GFN | Finn Entwistle