Steven Gerrard has been warned about a potential escape route from his current troubles at Al Ettifaq by Ally McCoist.
The Liverpool legend has come under fire a difficult start to the season in the Saudi Pro League, and was booed by his own fans after Ettifaq lost 2-0 to local rivals Al Qadsiyah in their last match.
Gerrard’s reign at Al Ettifaq hit a new low against Al Qadsiah[/caption]
Gerrard‘s side currently sit 11th in the table, having lost four of their last six games, with publication Al Youm reporting that he could face the sack this week.
But the former Aston Villa manager could well land on his feet here, having been linked with a return to old club Rangers.
The Gers have also endured a tricky opening few months of the campaign, and trail Celtic and Aberdeen at the league summit by nine points, piling the pressure on current boss Philippe Clement.
With both Gerrard and the Ibrox outfit in similar situations, the ex-England midfielder has been touted as a potential replacement for Clement, should he be relieved of his duties.
And while former Rangers hero Ally McCoist has insisted that Gerrard would be welcome back at the club he guided to the 2021 Scottish Premiership title, he had some words of warning.
On talkSPORT Breakfast alongside Jeff Stelling, McCoist was asked about a potential return to Glasgow for the 44-year-old.
He said: “He’d be welcome back, of course. I mean, he won the title in his time at Rangers, and he would be welcome back.”
However, McCoist then alerted his co-host to Rangers’ issues at boardroom level, factors which he believed could hamper Gerrard’s progress at the club if he were to return.
Currently, the Light Blues are without a chief executive, and have no permanent chairman or director of football operations.
The talkSPORT pundit continued: “But I have to tell you, Jeff, the problems at Rangers go far greater than the manager at this moment in time, and a lot deeper.
Clement took charge of Rangers in October 2023[/caption]
“I think we’ve got to get things sorted at the top level before anything else. It works its way down, as you know, if things aren’t right at the top.
“No full-time chairman, chief executive, director of football. There’s none of that happening at this moment in time.
“And that has to happen. Because I don’t care what anybody says, it must have an effect on the pitch, if things aren’t good off it.”
Gerrard began his senior managerial career at Rangers in 2018, having previously taken charge of Liverpool’s youth sides.
His reputation then skyrocketed as he led the Gers to a first Scottish title in ten years in 2021, going a whole season unbeaten to end Celtic’s run of dominance.
Months later, Gerrard was appointed as head coach of Aston Villa, but lasted less than a year in the role after being dismissed with his side 17th in the Premier League in October 2022.
He has struggled to make his mark since taking charge of Al Ettifaq in 2023, winning just 17 of his 46 games in charge.
However, the bookies have installed Gerrard as one of the favourites to replace the struggling Clement.
But McCoist again reminded listeners of the challenges facing the Reds great, as he told Stelling: “So in answer to your question, would he be welcome back?
“Yeah, absolutely, I think he would. But he’s clearly got his work cut out over there [Saudi] at this moment in time.”
