Clarke believes modern rookie managers have got it easy
Steve Clarke isn’t surprised that Steven Gerrard has enjoyed a successful start to his managerial career.
The Kilmarnock boss will be trying to end his unbeaten run as Ibrox gaffer today, but knows that will be a tough task. Clarke said: “When I was assistant at Liverpool, I worked with Stevie Gerrard the player. “First of all, I found him a good person, a good character in the dressing room and a good leader. “He was captain of Liverpool so you could see he was a leader. “Anybody who wants to go into coaching or managing needs to have high standards. “If you don’t have those standards, then you are not going to last very long in the game. “If you don’t have good professionalism, there is no point trying to become a manager. “You will soon get found out – and if you get found out, you won’t get many jobs. “It is no surprise Steven has those qualities.” Gerrard has been successful on the field with Rangers and, it would seem, has also been getting his way off the pitch. He made a number of summer signings and is confident of adding further to his squad. Clarke (54) admits a lot has changed since he embarked on a coaching career 20 years ago. High-profile rookies like Gerrard have clout that wasn’t always there with players of his generation. He said: “The financial aspect has obviously changed. “It allows this generation of managers, who have just stopped their playing career, to go into it with a little bit less pressure. “They don’t need to kowtow to the board, and they can be very forthright in what they want because they have that financial security behind them. “That is quite an important factor. “If you have financial security, then you don’t have to take any nonsense from the people up above you. “If you don’t like it, then you canwalkaway.” Clarke still isn’t convinced Kilmarnock should really be playing Rangers today. Although the Ayrshire club finished in the top six last season and won their League Cup section, they were unseeded when the draw for the last 16 was made. He said: “It seems a little bit random. Someone who finishes top of the group with no Premiership team in their section can be seeded, but we can’t. It’s a bit strange. “I think a straight knock-out for the League Cup would be fine. “That would allow you to structure your own pre-season, get the games you want to play against the standard of opposition you want at the right time. “It would mean you’re more prepared for the season, but I’m
not here to change Scottish football. “If they want to do the group stages this way, then we just do what we did – try to qualify for the knock-out rounds. It’s all we can do.” Kilmarnock beat Rangers twice last season and were unbeaten under Clarke against Celtic. The man who was voted a Manager of the Year maintains his men have to prove themselves again this term. He said: “You have to earn the right to be in this season as a good team. “If we play great and win, that’s fantastic. “If we are not very good and still win, that’s also fantastic. “We just have to remember how to win games.”