Gerrard to root out Ibrox weak links

STEVEN GERRARD has vowed to weed out the weak at Rangers and rid the club of players who he believes cannot handle the pressure.

A major — and essential — mentality shift is set to take place at Ibrox as the Champions League-winning ex-Liverpool and England captain moulds a squad to tackle Celtic.

In the last couple of humiliating Old Firm defeats, Rangers players have been blamed by a host of former Ibrox stars and pundits for lacking passion and desire for the job.

Gerrard has been recruited to deliver on chairman Dave King’s demand for ‘immediate success’.

Although he does not officially start the job until June 1, he will be analysing the final games of Rangers’ league campaign and liaising with director of football Mark Allen on signing targets.

And he has made it clear he will figure out himself who has the attitude to travel with him on the road to returning Rangers to top rank in the Scottish game.

When Gerrard addressed the accusations laid at the door of the current squad, he stated: ‘I can’t have that. That’s got to stop. That’s got to stop now. These players will know.

‘When I get a chance to speak to the players that are currently here — and also the players that

we add to it (the squad) — they’ll know very quickly what myself and my staff are about... and what we demand.

‘A lot of them will already know what the club demands, but it’s very important from the off that they really buy into what we are trying to do here and there are a lot of areas where we need to improve.’

When asked if that mentality can be changed in existing staff, Gerrard said: ‘I’ll try, I’ll try. I need players that are willing to adapt, players that are going to believe in what we are trying to do.

‘But I’ve been around footballers for a long time, I’ll work it out very quickly who fancies this challenge and who wants to come with me.

‘And if there’s people who don’t fancy it and want to be somewhere else — and don’t fancy adapting to what we want and demand — then good luck to them.

‘If you are not a hungry footballer, you shouldn’t be at Rangers Football Club. Simple as that.

‘I wouldn’t like to put a time on assessing that, whether it’s a session, a day or a week or a month. But I’ll work it out as quick as I can.

‘And I want a squad of players here who are focused on the future, not the past.

‘I want players who want to come with me on this journey.’

Gerrard has already backed the captures of Hull goalkeeper Allan McGregor, who won three league titles among his 11 major honours at the club first time round, and Burnley midfielder Scott Arfield.

Two dominant centre-halves and a marquee striker are the priority signings director of football Allen and his scouting team are working hard to secure.

Gerrard’s former Anfield colleague Martin Skrtel, 33, is one name being touted to hook up with his old captain.