‘I was so grateful to the board for their support and standing by me’

STEVEN GERRARD has thanked the Rangers board for sticking with him through two trophyless seasons at Ibrox.

The manager admits he warned the club hierarchy that he would require patience when he was appointed manager by then chairman Dave King nearly three years ago.

With Celtic boasting a significant advantage in terms of financial and playing resources, Gerrard sought assurances from his paymasters that they would give him leeway to make the necessary improvements to make the club champions.

A full 20 points clear at the top of the Premiership table, Rangers are close to securing the first major honour of Gerrard’s reign.

But while he’s seen plenty fellow managers lose their jobs over the past few months — most notably his former England team-mate Frank Lampard after just 18 months at Chelsea — he would dispute the suggestion that he has been fortunate by comparison.

He said: ‘I don’t consider myself lucky. Before I signed up for the job I asked those questions myself.

‘We had numerous conversations with the chairman and the board to say look, I’m a new manager who lacks experience and I’m taking on a huge challenge.

‘I’m ready for the challenge, I’m appreciative of the opportunity but we will have some moments where I might need your support as a board to go above and beyond, to have my back in tough moments.

‘I wasn’t surprised by the support but I was very grateful.’

Appointed at the age of 37,

Gerrard was pitched in against his old Anfield boss Brendan Rodgers in year one. His second season saw the campaign halted early due to coronavirus, with Celtic awarded the title on account of a 13-point lead in March of last year.

By that point, Douglas Park had succeeded King as boardroom figurehead and, although the new chairman demanded an investigation into SPFL process following the curtailment, the ensuing four-month break from competitive football let Gerrard reset his squad’s mindset.

In the weeks prior to lockdown, Rangers lost at home to today’s opponents Hamilton, once to Kilmarnock and twice to a Hearts team that would ultimately be relegated.

This season they are unbeaten in 27 league games, and have drawn just three times.