Five Rangers players reportedly out, Gerrard claims it’s his decision

Follow us on Google Discover

Rangers look set to clear the decks at Ibrox this summer.

Rangers boss Steven Gerrard has told The Scottish Sun that the Ibrox board aren’t forcing him to slash his squad, but he wants to offload players.

The Gers have brought in six new signings so far this summer, bringing in George Edmundson, Steven Davis, Greg Stewart, Jordan Jones, Jake Hastie and Sheyi Ojo.

Gerrard is still hoping to bring in more new faces, with Joe Aribo all set to become signing number seven as Rangers’ recruitment drive continues.

Yet with so many players coming in, it’s natural that a host of players will go, and The Scottish Sun claim that five players are set to leave.

Kyle Lafferty, Eros Grezda, Graham Dorrans, Jason Holt and Jordan Rossiter have all been told to move on, with Gerrard allegedly telling the quintet that they can go.

They haven’t even travelled to Portugal for the Rangers training camp, with the writing on the wall for all of them, whilst a number of other players will surely leave too.

Now, Gerrard has admitted that his squad is too big, and the board haven’t forced him to leave those players behind and move them on, it’s all Gerrard’s own decision.

Gerrard added that his decision isn’t a brutal one, he just wants to be honest with his players and allow them to and play elsewhere, with a host of outgoings expected after so many signings.

“The squad is big. We have 28 players with us right now,” said Gerrard. “The board haven’t said and they haven’t put me under any pressure, but you don’t have to be a rocket scientist to work out the squad is too big. I have to be honest and tell people they won’t get the game time that will satisfy them. It’s not as brutal as saying get out as quick as you can, we don’t respect you and don’t love you any more.”

“But as a manager you have to make tough decisions and you have to go with what you think is the best prepared squad to challenge next season. Yes, I have had to have difficult conversations with certain players, but I hope they understand I’m trying to be as respectful as I can to give them as much time to find a different route,” he added.