Former Rangers chairman Dave King says he would love to see the club bring Steven Gerrard back to replace Russell Martin in the dugout and insists the title-winning boss has “unfinished business at Ibrox”.
Martin was sacked on Sunday following a 1-1 draw with Falkirk that meant he had won just five games from 17 in all competitions.
As they begin their hunt for a replacement, King believes the last man to lift the Premiership trophy as Rangers manager would be the ideal candidate.
The South Africa-based businessman brought Gerrard to Ibrox in 2018, after consecutive third-place finishes, and the legendary Liverpool star got them back to competing with Celtic, and in Europe, again.
Under the leadership of the former England captain, they won their first Premiership title in a decade in 2021 and reached the knockout stages of the Europa League.
King says Gerrard, who is currently out of work after leaving Saudi side Al-Ettifaq earlier this year, was “forced out” of Ibrox when he left to join Aston Villa and would bring back a winning mentality to the side.
However, he also warned that the club can’t afford to make another mistake and must make sure they make the right appointment.
In an exclusive interview with STV Sport, he said: “I would love to see Steven back at the club. Steven is a winner and will get more out of the squad than we have witnessed so far.
“We have been watching a team that doesn’t seem to have a plan for what to do when in possession and when out of possession, and Steven would quickly sort that out.
“I believe he has unfinished business after being forced out by Douglas Park when he was on track to win 56.
“I think he can get more out of the present squad reasonably quickly and get back to winning ways.”
King admits winning the title this season is “unlikely”, but wouldn’t rule it out if Gerrard is brought in quickly, and hits the ground running.
And while he would like to see an appointment made quickly, he believes they shouldn’t rush into anything unless the right candidate is available.
He said: “(Winning the league) is unlikely this season, but not impossible if he gets going now.”
When asked if the next manager should be appointed quickly, he said: “Only if the right candidate is available immediately. We can’t make another mistake.
“The pressure is now intense for two reasons. It is vital to get the club back to winning ways, and the owners need to quickly reverse the loss of confidence that supporters have evidenced.”
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