Ashley’s bid to lure Gerrard snubbed as Toon seach goes on

NEWCASTLE owner Mike Ashley has tried and failed to lure Steven Gerrard to St James’ Park.

Ashley targeted the Rangers manager as a potential replacement for Rafa Benitez after the Spaniard left the club last week at the end of his contract.

Ashley knew from the start his chances of recruiting Gerrard were slim. And after trying his luck for the former Liverpool captain, the owner was told Gerrard would not be turning his back on Rangers just 12 months into his first managerial job.

Gerrard leads the Scottish club into Europa League action in Gibraltar against St Joseph’s this week, and Rangers’ hierarchy have not welcomed Newcastle’s interest in their manager, particularly as Ashley has been involved in a bitter dispute with the club over his rights to their merchandise.

Newcastle currently face a huge problem with the players now back for pre-season training and no immediate prospect of a new man at the helm to revamp a threadbare squad.

The Toon appear to have lost their entire strike force, with Ayoze Perez moving to Leicester for £30million and Salomon Rondon unlikely to return after his highly successful loan season at St James’. Academy boss Ben Dawson and Under-23s manager Neil Redfearn are currently holding the fort with just 34 days until Newcastle’s first game of the season, at home to Arsenal.

Ashley is also frustrated at slow progress in a potential takeover by Sheikh Khaled bin Zayed Al Nehayan. So far no funds have been forthcoming from the Middle East-based group after previously agreeing to meet Ashley’s £350m asking price.

Meanwhile, Benitez got off to a winning start in his latest job when new side Dalian Yifang beat Henan Jianye 3-1 yesterday.