“Why would Stevie leave for Villa and not Newcastle?”

The question many Rangers fans are asking themselves over the past 24 hours is if Gerrard does go to Villa, why Villa, and why not Newcastle who had a tonne of cash?

Well there’s a major reason Newcastle could ultimately only get an unemployed Eddie Howe and not Gerrard, Conte or Emery who were all miles ahead of the ex-Bournemouth coach in preference.

That reason? They’re a basket case, and a completely unknown quantity.

Newcastle couldn’t get a credible manager because no serious coach was going to risk their reputation on a club which has been in purgatory for 15 years and is now cash rich under human rights’ violated Saudi investment.

It’s a complete poisoned chalice to a reputation, and that’s something Howe lacks.

A reputation.

But Gerrard now has one. He saved Rangers from *10IAR, and he won 55. His European runs were remarkable, and his stock in England sky high.

But Newcastle was a gigantic pile of fish in a barrel and it’ll be years and a lot of hard work and investment before they’re actually competing again.

But Villa? Good club. Sorry Rangers fans, they’re a decent and honourable club with a good reputation, and they’re stable – they’ve just had a dire start to the season and would expect to be in a better position than Birmingham’s biggest club are.

It’s why Gerrard is interested. They have good cash, rich owners, solid infrastructure, and Dean Smith’s time had simply expired. They’re the perfect stepping stone towards the Liverpool job.

A two or three years in Brum, closer to his brood as well, and if he impresses there surely it’ll be time for him to take Klopp’s reins from him.

So Villa is far more attractive to him than Newcastle. It’s far more attractive to ANYONE than Newcastle.

But it still doesn’t mean it’s a done deal.

We’ll see.