Rangers manager Steven Gerrard has reportedly been targeted for a job with an EFL club whose owners are very keen in appointing him.
The former Liverpool and England player has spent two seasons at Ibrox in what is his first major coaching position.
Despite failing to prevent Celtic winning the Scottish Premiership in the last two campaigns, he has caught the eye of plenty from clubs in the second tier of English football.
According to a report, the latest team to have ‘earmarked’ him is Championship side Bristol City, who most recently said goodbye to Lee Johnson.
Gerrard is listed as one of the favourites for the job, with the odds currently for him to take over at 11/2, but the Express now claim that he is Steve Lansdown’s top target to take over.
It was on the 4th of July that Bristol City cut their ties with Johnson after a 1-0 defeat to Cardiff City and since then, the club have spent the last week gathering applications and fielding calls from interested parties.
It’s not clear whether Gerrard is interested in the vacancy at Ashton Gate, but he did turn down an approach from Birmingham city in late June.
The Robins are yet to start the interview process and will not be rushing into making a decision, with interim boss Dean Holden currently winning both of his games in charge as City cling to a faint hope of finishing in the playoffs.
Website Football Insider stated that Birmingham asked Gerrard if he was interested about taking over this summer.
They cited a ‘Birmingham source’ as telling them they are interested in him succeeding the recently departed Pep Clotet.
Gerrard declined the opportunity, instead choosing to remain at the Scottish giants and endure a third campaign at Rangers.
After retiring in 2016 he then went into coaching with the Liverpool academy before getting the chance to prove himself in May 2018.
He is yet to win a trophy for Rangers, however his achievement will be narrowing the gap on Old Firm rivals Celtic, as they hope they can stopped Neil Lennon’s side from winning an historic tenth title in a row.
He signed a new contract last December to remain with them until at least the summer of 2024.
There were rumours in May 2020, that Gerrard was considering his future at the club.
However the ex-England international came out and revealed has no intention of leaving Rangers in the “near future” unless the Ibrox club sacks him.
Gerrard, who has ambitions to become Liverpool boss one day, told The Times: “If people think I am going to leave Rangers in the near future because it is my decision, and I don’t want to be there, then that opinion is wrong.
“In terms of me being proud and happy to be the manager, and wanting to move the club forward and improve it, then I am all in. It was always going to be a job where I had to learn on the go.
“Now, I never for one moment thought I was going to get everything right and everything was going to be positive.
“I knew the team and squad situation when I took over. I knew the pressure and the demands of the fans.
“I knew walking into the job what I was taking on but if you are asking me the question, ‘Am I a better manager for the two-year experience and are Rangers in a better position now to what they were?’ then my answer is yes.
“We are trying to move and upset something that has been successful for a long time. I think you have to realise, and appreciate, where Rangers were.
“It takes time to get it back to when they were successful and had incredible managers like Graeme Souness and Walter Smith.
“It was always going to take time to get back. I see a lot of progress. I see us getting better but I appreciate that at Rangers eventually you have to win. You can’t be nearly.
“I am the type of person, as you know, who will wear my heart on my sleeve and that is probably an area where I need to be better at and be a bit more balanced after games.”
TOP SIX FAVOURITES FOR THE JOB:
Chris Hughton – 6/5
Ryan Lowe – 5/2
Steven Gerrard – 11/2
Dean Holden – 8/1
Michael Flynn – 9/1
Aitor Karanka – 14/1
Dean Smith insisted that John Terry is not leaving Aston Villa after being linked with the job last week.
Smith simply told Sky Sports News: “I have spoken to John and he is fully committed to our cause here at Aston Villa.
“They’ve got Dean Holden, a former coach of mine, in charge at the moment. He is working hard for his club and JT is certainly working very hard for me.
“We’ve got a very good relationship and we enjoy working together.”
Fans took to social media after finding out that Steven Gerrard has been targeted for a job with EFL club Bristol City…
Rangers, first Scottish team to get to last 16 of a European competition in years and are still in the last 16
Or a team whos sitting mid table in the championship and will never go anywhere in England or Europe
Tough choice ??????
— ??????? ?????? (@RangersSpares__) July 12, 2020
Great, get another guy known to slip up on the run in
— Stuart Millett (@stumillett) July 12, 2020
Got to be Hughton or Jokanovic for me. Gerrard is managing in a poor league with the second best team in it. He’s proven nothing. Too early in his managerial career for me. We need to take that next step. That’s a proven manager, not chancing on an up and coming
— wurzelm74 (@wurzelm74) July 12, 2020
Hughton for me, but think Gerrard would show that we haven’t gone for a cheap option for once aswell
— Billy Taylor (@billytaylorbcfc) July 12, 2020
Great move for Gerrard. Bristol City owned by one of the richest men in the UK. Loads of money to spend and an opportunity to manage in the EPL.
— Mark Feely (@MarkFeely6) July 12, 2020
Just think if Steven Gerrard would be the next Bristol City manager, all your Liverpool mates from Bristol can actually see Gerrard live at Ashton Gate as they have never been to Anfield ??
— Joe Jones (@joejones1897) July 12, 2020
Steven Gerrard head coach.
Make it happen please Mr Lansdown. #BristolCity ?⚪️
— Russell Payne (@russjpayne) July 12, 2020
Cooor imagine Steven Gerrard’s Bristol City vs Wayne Rooney’s Derby County next season. Sky are gonna fucking jizz themselves.
— jake (@jakedaltonnnnn) July 9, 2020
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