A legendary football figure has revealed he asked his agent to make him join Rangers even though a “massive pay cut” was needed to get him to Ibrox.
Rangers manager search continues
The Gers are back to square one in their manager search after Steven Gerrard declared himself out of contention to return to Ibrox.
The 45-year-old had been the favorite to replace the sacked Russell Martin as head coach, but it is understood that after holding constructive discussions with the club he felt the time was not right for a return to Glasgow.
The PA news agency reports that conversations have been positive and both sides have agreed to leave the door open for the future, but for now 49ers Enterprises’ first major test in charge at Ibrox has become much more difficult.
Danny Rohl appears to be the favorite for the job at the moment, although reports suggest one of the Gers’ top transfer targets, Pierce Charles, would be less likely to join the club if his former Sheffield Wednesday boss was there.
Chairman Andrew Cavenagh and vice-chairman Paraag Marathe promised fans a “rigorous and considered recruitment process” in which they were both “deeply involved” and to which they would give “their full attention”, but appointing a maverick young coach like Rohl would bear a striking resemblance to the risk that was taken in appointing Martin in June.
As the club struggles to find a managerial candidate the fans can rally behind, a man the Ibrox faithful will never lack love for has revealed the feeling is mutual.
Gascoigne: I told my agent I would cut my salary to join Rangers
Speaking to talkSPORT on Monday, former England superstar Paul Gascgoine, who won the league twice during his time at Rangers, said he almost missed out on his move to Ibrox due to a name mix-up but then jumped at the chance to join Walter Smith.
“I loved it there, my stay was fantastic. But I remember when my agent was talking to Lazio to find out which club I should go to.
“He mentioned Aston Villa and then said Rangers, so I said, ‘No, I’m not going.’
“Then, as I was walking away, he said ‘Glasgow Rangers’ and I was like, ‘Oh, I thought you meant Queens Park Rangers!’
“So I said, ‘Okay, finish them,’ and then my agents were in talks and I was telling Walter I’m coming, don’t worry.
“I’m going to take a massive pay cut, I want to go to Rangers and in one week that was it.”
‘Gazza’ is one of the greatest Rangers players of all time and was already a candidate for the Ballon d’Or before joining them, finishing fourth at the famous awards ceremony in 1990, proving the appeal of the club and Smith, who himself won 21 major trophies as Rangers boss.
Whether Rohl or anyone else can get the club back to that level given the growing financial gap between Scotland and Europe’s ‘big five’ leagues, fans are desperate for Cavenagh and Marathe to find a leader like Smith who can once again transform Ibrox into a stage that calls upon the best talent in world football.
