Gerrard could do with taking leaf out of wee Jim’s book

The message board inside the Dundee United dressing room left no one in any doubt.

There, in big bold capital letters, was a notice which detailed the cash you’d have to fork out for a variety of offences.

Tardiness wasn’t tolerated. Facial hair was another big no-no. There were a few more obscure crimes which related to offences such as not being in your digs at certain times of an evening.

There were also the red- line fines. Money would come straight out of your wages if you were booked during a game and hell hath no fury like a Jim McLean if you had the temerity to get yourself sent off.

Fear of a financial kneecapping was more than enough to ensure discipline.

Mouthing off at referees or acts of petulance weren’t an option as the fine list was a deterrent of nuclear proportions.

That brings us to Rangers and their eight red cards in the current campaign.

Steven Gerrard’s exasperation has been shown by his recent remarks over breaches of on-field discipline.

Having sat his players down for 20 minutes and highlighted the importance of not getting booked and sent off, his message hasn’t managed to get through with a deaf ear in particular being turned by Alfredo Morelos.

Eight red cards are a clear sign that liberties are being taken and the manager doesn’t have a tight enough rein on the squad.

Ibrox No. 2 Gary McAllister believes inexperience is an issue which is causing so many of his players to fall foul of whistlers.

Maybe it’s his sidekick who’s showing signs of being a bit wet behind the ears. The need to control a dressing room is new for Gerrard.

He may have been skipper for England and Liverpool but being a manager is new territory and it appears his players detect a weakness.

Midfielder Andy Halliday has revealed that the players will look at introducing a f ine system themselves. But discipline issues at clubs can usually be traced to what type of deterrent comes from the top.

Rangers are in danger of having a promising season ruined by players incapable of staying on the park.

It’s an iron- f ist issue for any coach and some clubs hit you in the pocket. Arsene Wenger was a real stickler.

He would think nothing of fining a player £ 50 0 for taking a phone call inside Arsenal ’s training complex. Bookings and reds would take you into the thousands.

Maybe it’s time for Gerrard to adopt a more ruthless approach to trying to get ill-disciplined players to toe the line and make it a cash for cautions type of club.

No doubt he has a rigorous fine system already in place but it’s clearly not working.

There has to be a better deterrent and imagination can be used to ensure it’s not always the pocket which is hit.

Double sessions, extra work in the community and a whole range of extracurricular activities could pay off.

Gerrard is right to say some players aren’t respecting the club. He could have gone a step further as red cards at this rate are a sign that some aren’t respecting him.

Miller isn’t the only player with a new lease of life at Dens under gaffer McIntyre.

O’Dea’s days at the club