Mark Lawrenson comments why Gerrard will be confident Rangers can topple Celtic

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Mark Lawrenson says Steven Gerrard would not join Rangers without assurances from the Ibrox board.

Mark Lawrenson has insisted Steven Gerrard would not join Rangers without proper guarantees from the board at Ibrox that they can challenge Celtic.

The Liverpool club legend told BBC Sport that potential Rangers boss Gerrard would only consider taking the post in Glasgow if he gets the right assurances that he will be given the right financial backing.

Rangers lost 5-0 to Celtic at the weekend and sacked manager Graeme Murty, who was only on a contract until the end of the season.

Gerrard is the clear bookies favourite to replace Murty, having been linked with the post since last week.

Lawrenson said: “We know Celtic are the dominant team and their wage bill is far in excess of any of the other teams.

“But at the very least, I am pretty sure he will have assurances in writing, in terms of his backroom staff, the money he can spend and the wage bill.”

Challenging Celtic will not be easy and Gerrard would become the fourth Rangers boss to try since their return to the top flight.

No manager has managed to defeat Brendan Rodgers’ Celtic in 11 attempts and Rangers are currently third in the Scottish Premiership and could slip to fourth before the season is over.

Gerrard’s arrival would give Ibrox a lift over the summer but he could get a real shock to the system when next season begins.

But between now and then he will hope to sign players who would give Rangers genuine reason to be optimistic that their fortunes could change.