If there was a small clue about the future of Steven Gerrard, it might have been the conduct of Jermain Defoe, whose own future at Ibrox appears over as well.

The former England striker twice (or more) abandoned the club to pundit for Sky, with many fans trying to justify this flagrant disrespect for Rangers, but the truth was he thought it more important to tell Sky’s audience his opinion on English football than coach at Ibrox on his £30K a week salary.

And there will be those who said ‘the club will have given permission’ – well that’s more fool the club who apparently, according to fans, allowed it and effectively paid Defoe to sit in a Sky studio and talk rubbish.

Sorry, Rangers come first, and if you haven’t sussed that out following Gerrard’s exit, you never will.

Defoe’s future is probably done, he’s been completely inconspicuous since the summer and he’s more interested in a pundit role than doing what he’s paid to.

This is not a character assassination, we know the guy is a very decent sort, but frankly we don’t care.

We care about our club, and no one disrespects it without answering for it.

We’re sure there’ll be plenty still defending him (and Gerrard) and trying to justify it all, accusing us of all sorts for daring to criticise Defoe, but frankly he can move on with all of them now.

The Gerrard era is done, and it’s time for a fresh start.