Gerrard cites 'unfinished business' as Rangers wait

Steven Gerrard (centre) said he had his staff "to a tee" at Rangers, working with Garry McAllister (left) and Michael Beale

Rangers are awaiting confirmation of whether their former manager Steven Gerrard is interested in returning.

The club are open to reappointing Gerrard, who was in charge at Ibrox from 2018-2021 and won the title in his last season, after sacking Russell Martin.

In an interview with former England team-mate Rio Ferdinand, Gerrard spoke of his desire to return to management but said he wanted "to be at a team that's going to compete to win because I think that suits me better".

Rangers are in the process of appointing a new head coach following the sacking of Martin, who won just five of his 17 matches.

That has left them eighth in the table - 11 points adrift of leaders Hearts.

Former Liverpool captain Gerrard is among the names under consideration by the Ibrox hierarchy as they look to finalise a shortlist of candidates.

The club's American owners had been interested in the 45-year-old after completing their takeover in the summer, but it is understood a number of issues resulted in Gerrard withdrawing from the running.

In an interview with the Rio Ferdinand Presents Podcast, Gerrard said there had been "five or six really interesting phone calls" since he left Saudi Arabian club Al-Ettifaq in January.

"I haven't been ready because I haven't got that [coaching] team set around me. And the timing hasn't been right," he explained.

"My daughter's just had a baby. I've just become a grandad. I wasn't ready. I haven't got my staff ready.

"So unfortunately, those opportunities have come at the wrong time, if you like.

"But if the right call comes my way, the right club, the right challenge, and I've got my people set, which I will have at some point, I'll take that challenge on because it's in me."

Gerrard said he knew his strengths but also the areas he needed support from staff around him.

"I felt like I had that to a tee at Rangers [with Gary McAllister and Michael Beale]. A lot of coach changes at Aston Villa and over in Saudi, I don't think helped me from a personal point of view.

"I'd love another go at some point.

"I want to change a few things and improve a few things and come back fresh, with a few different people around myself.

"I'd love another couple of challenges doing this and that's what I'm working on in the background at the moment.

"A few different ideas, a few different people around me.

"Now I'm enjoying family time and doing a lot of things that I haven't been able to do. But there's a part of me that still feels that there's a bit of unfinished business in terms of wanting to go in and face another couple of exciting challenges."