Steven Gerrard has endured a less-than straightforward spell at Ibrox, with his Rangers side set to end the campaign trophyless again.
Michael Stewart has admitted his surprise at Steven Gerrard’s decision to take the Rangers manager’s job, given the club’s lack of ‘financial clout’.
Gerrard has led the Gers to second in his first season at Ibrox, although his team trail Celtic by 10 points ahead of next week’s Old Firm and have been knocked out of all three cup competitions.
For Stewart, the former Scotland international who was on Rangers’ books as a youth, his old side do not have a structure in place to catch the Bhoys up.
“This is where I’m surprised that Steven Gerrard took the Rangers job,” the 38-year-old said via BBC Scotland’s Sportsound podcast on Monday. “Because how do you close the gap? How do you get better?
“What are the structures behind the scenes at Rangers that are going to enable him to close the gap on Celtic? I don’t think there is a structure in place.
“Have they got the financial clout to mount a serious challenge? No they’ve not. Clearly they’ve not because they’re losing money at an alarming rate.
“So when you look at are they capable of closing the gap on Celtic, it’s not just simply money that needs to be chucked at it, but that’s a big factor.”
Stewart went on to state that Gerrard, who has overseen the signings of 20 players since moving to Rangers, must do better with what little money he is given in future transfer windows, following the example set by the Gers’ European qualification rivals, Aberdeen and Kilmarnock.
Is Stewart right in his assessment of Gerrard’s first season as Rangers boss?
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