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We're being naive if we think Aston Villa aren't an attractive club for anyone raised in England. They genuinely are the proverbial sleeping giant. They've a big support, based in the second largest city in the country, and a decent history to match. They might have been a yo-yo side in recent times but I'm old enough to remember when Man City and Chelsea were too. Aston Villa have ambitious billionaire owners, a decent squad and money in the bank from the sale of Grealish. On top of that Birmingham is only a couple of hours drive from Liverpool, Gerrard could be home with his family every night. I suspect Gerrard knows that unless he can turn Rangers into perennial Champion's League participants his managerial pedigree isn't good enough for the Liverpool job currently. But, take a side like Aston Villa back into Europe, have them playing exciting football, maybe win a cup, and he's very much in the frame. Remember Klopp had won the Bundesliga and reached the Champion's League final before he was considered for Liverpool. We've not spoken a lot about our recent financial report and what that might mean for the club. Gerrard and his coaching staff are ambitious and our failure to beat Malmo was a huge blow to the club. If we don't win the league this season we might have a problem, we can't keep losing those kind of sums. Having crowds back is a huge help, but we can only balance the books by qualifying for the Champion's League or by selling someone for decent money. Gerrard and his coaching team might feel they've taken us as far as they can with the players we have. Hopefully that's not the case and he does fancy a crack at winning the SPFL and then straight into the Champion's League next season.

Certainly looks like there's more in this story than the Newcastle rumours and that Villa are more interested. I guess it will come down to Gerrard but I'd be surprised and disappointed if he opted to move on.

SG was a very "leftfield" appointment that was fraught with danger, but overall, it's been a success. After getting back to SPFL and chopping/changing managers we needed a period of stability followed by some success. If SG leaves (or indeed stays) we need to build on this stability and success. People will point to SG only winning one trophy since joining Rangers but I'm sure our board would class our European runs as being a success (both financially and optically). It could be argued that this European success was more important (financially)than success in domestic cups. There is no denying SG delivered the Holy Grail - number 55, the title that signalled our return to the top of Scottish Football where Rangers belong. He should never be forgotten for that. I would like to imagine SG would stay with us, but Aston Villa is a very attractive job in a very attractive league where he'll have more money to spend and probably more importantly, he'll be closer to his family.

H&H just tweeted there's been no official contact from Villa, which allows us to rubbish some of the noise.

You have to admire the old guy`s eye-sight, since he sees the bullet coming ...

Don't joke, please!

A born winner might see it more as a sleeping giant and a terrific challenge. Either way, Villa are a big club in a top league, with significant resources. Rangers are big club in a diddy league, who just announced we're really skint. I think Gerrard will want to see this season out at Ibrox but who knows (other than him)...

That's not how it works - or, at least, it is a dated approach.

Whilst losing SG and his backroom staff would be a loss, I'm trusting our board have a very expensive release clause in their contracts. Also, I'm trusting that the board and Ross Wilson have a process in place to replace them if and / or when they leave.

Remember: Derek McInnes is available.

That guy behind looks like Alan Pardew lol

Daniel Farke.

I think Lampard is probably quite similar to Gerrard, in terms of their managerial abilities. Ross Wilson will have a list of potential candidates lined up.

'Violently against'? No, I'd be all in favour if we could attract that sort of calibre.

If he goes, and i personally hope he stays for at least another season after this - depending on whether the league is won and at least one other trophy, how would the group feel about Lampard taking over? He did a reasonable job at Derby getting them in the playoffs with no money and despite things ending abruptly at Chelsea, he was responsible for the emergence of several youth players inc Mount, James, Abraham, Hudson and Chalobah and those on loan elsewhere like Conor Gallagher, Anrmando Broja and Billy Gilmour. He is used to high pressure having been a penalty taker twice on CL finals and is a serial winner as a player much like SG, In fact they were very similar players and their statistics bear this out. Anyone violently against a move of this sort with more experience neccessary or could it be an interesting appointment that would bring just as much interest as SG has?

Joe Mercer

Correct. It’s also a club which some notable managers haven’t quite managed to shake out of its torpor. Houllier, Turner, Taylor, di Matteo. Not even McNeill or O’Neill could do it. Alex McCleish tried but failed.

We are Rangers. If Gerrard goes, we'll bring in someone else and still be Rangers. I'm unsure why people only think locally when a new manager might be required - there are good coaches all over the globe.

You're all arguing about Tavernier/Patterson, and here I am fuming that my boy Stephen Kelly doesn't even get a spot on the bench!!

The problem lies is possibly losing Patterson while Tav reaches the end of his spell at Rangers and ending up with neither.

If SG gets offered the Villa job then I’d suggest it’s a certainty he’ll take it. What concerns me more is whether our board have anyone in mind to replace him if he goes. We can’t have another Pedro or Murty fiasco

Liverpool connection with Christian Purslaw at Villa

Unlikely at best I'd fancy...

The train Glasgow Central to Liverpool Lime Street doesn’t go via Birmingham New Street. If I were Villa I’d be happy enough with SG but I’d prefer Martinez.