The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Rangers step up chase for Anfield legend Gerrard as Murty is axed
Humiliating 5-0 defeat against Celtic proves last straw for Ibrox bosses
Rangers are stepping up their pursuit of Steven Gerrard after deciding they have had enough of Graeme Murty.
Ibrox chiefs called time on Murty’s reign just 48 hours after Sunday’s record thumping by Celtic.
Now they are hoping to conclude talks with former Liverpool skipper Gerrard.
The two parties have been locked in discussions since last week and Gers now say they hope to be able to release news about Murty’s successor “in the near future”.
However, Press Association Sport understands there is no “imminent announcement” and any agreement will have to wait until Gerrard, who is in charge of the Anfield Under-18s, returns from Rome, where he is working for BT Sport as a pundit during their coverage of Liverpool’s Champions League clash with Roma.
Former under-20s coach Murty was due to remain in charge until the end of the season but was relieved of his duties after meeting with Stewart Robertson yesterday.
Assistant coaches Jimmy Nicholl and Jonatan Johansson will take over dugout responsibilities for Saturday’s home game with Kilmarnock while Rangers chiefs look to lift the gloom sitting over Ibrox by securing the appointment of Kop icon Gerrard.
Murty was only meant to be a shortterm fix after being called in as caretaker boss following Pedro Caixinha’s sacking back in October.
But he ended up staying in the post for six months as chairman Dave King and his board dithered over appointing a new long-term successor.
Gerrard last night confirmed his interest in the post.
Asked about recent speculation linking him with the post, the former England captain told BT Sport: “Yes, there is truth in the rumours. I’ve held initial talks with Rangers and the plan is to pick them up in a couple of days’ time. We’ll see.
“There is (interest). I’ve held positive talks with them. I’m busy now for a couple of days but I will pick it up on Thursday and we’ll see if we can progress it.”
Gerrard will be in Italy tonight working as a TV pundit for Liverpool’s Champions League semi-final against Roma.
Sunday’s record 5-0 league pasting by Celtic in the end proved to be a humiliation too far for the former Reading and Scotland defender.
It came just two weeks after a 4-0 drubbing by Brendan Rodgers’ merciless Hoops in the William Hill Scottish Cup semi-finals turned what had been a previously sympathetic Gers faithful against him.
Originally there was a degree of understanding shown to Murty as the academy coach stepped into the Ibrox breach for the second time, having also served as caretaker boss after Mark Warburton’s exit.
He suffered early set-backs with defeats to Hamilton, Dundee, St Johnstone and Kilmarnock but showed some promise with home and away wins over Aberdeen as well as an encouraging 0-0 draw at Celtic Park.
But that optimism was snubbed out as they suffered a 3-2 Ibrox defeat against 10-man Celtic in March. That defeat sapped the confidence from the Gers ranks and the wheels came off at Hampden two weeks ago as Rodgers’ team ran up another one-sided triumph.