Ibrox Noise understands that the man earmarked to replace Danny Rohl on his inevitable exit was Andrew Cavenagh’s initial first choice, Steven Gerrard. Rangers’ former manager already said no tentatively around a year and a half ago due to not wishing to relocate from the Middle East. However, on the more recent attempt where he said yes, this was due to the logistics of that not being a problem anymore. Consequently, Gerrard had agreed with Cavenagh to rejoin Rangers as manager.
Gerrard Deal Fell Apart
Alas for the situation, and just like with Kevin Muscat, once Kevin Thelwell and Patrick Stewart got their grubby mitts involved in negotiations, it went south. Consequently, this meant that Steven Gerrard walked away. Andrew Cavenagh was absolutely fuming and livid and desperate to get Gerrard back.
He held his own emergency discussion with Gerrard. Alas, it was too late and Gerrard was final. He did appreciate, however, the attempts by the chairman to retrieve the situation and he showed respect and interest for the future.
This was why fans will remember the situation being ‘left open’. As we recall, at the time, the story went that Cavenagh met Gerrard to discuss a retrieval of it, but the situation was left ‘open with the possibility of renegotiation in the future’.
Rohl Was Not The Chairman’s Choice
Danny Rohl was, of course, then appointed by Kevin Thelwell, and this here is the crucial point. As we have mentioned before, Rohl was not Cavenagh’s choice by any manner of means. He delegated his trust down to the football men that were under his employment, aka Thelwell and Stewar. So he kowtowed to their judgment and their appointment.
He then firmly threw his full backing behind Rohl and indeed Thelwell and Stewart regarding their appointment. Consequently, over time, Cavenagh has realised that this was not a good appointment. And crucially, his own favourite would have been better suited.
Gerrard Remains Prime Candidate
Whether Steven Gerrard now returns to Rangers for good is not clear. But he is prime candidate if Andrew Cavenagh gets his way. Andrew Cavenagh, of course, is essentially Rangers’ owner. He is the chairman and he leads the main consortium that owns the club.
If Andrew Cavenagh wants Steven Gerrard, he will move hell and high water to get him. It does look at the moment like Gerrard would be the man for next season.
Whether this would include Michael Beale is another story, but it is very, very early days. So we know definitively why those negotiations and that situation was left open for a future potential discussion.