Steven Gerrard has pulled out of a pre-arranged Channel 4 News interview.
The Sevco boss is normally happy to get in front of the cameras for English based media now that he is out of the spotlight working in Glasgow.
Ciaran Jenkins was due to interview Gerrard about a documentary on the life of the Liverpool legend but after lengthy delays and being told what subjects were out of bounds he decided to pack his bags and abandon the exercise.
Steven Gerrard just pulled out of #C4News interview.
Told by personal staffer- not Rangers- we couldn’t ask certain questions including about Neil Lennon and sectarianism. Then she disappeared.
Been waiting for him here for hours. Nobody even told us in person it was off. pic.twitter.com/RYsbNjFxXE
— Ciaran Jenkins (@C4Ciaran) November 6, 2018
Interview was arranged through maker of new film about Steven Gerrard’s life.
Minutes before he was supposed to arrive I was told by Gerrard’s representative what he would and would not talk about.
We had an amicable chat. She went off. Not seen her since.
— Ciaran Jenkins (@C4Ciaran) November 6, 2018
We agreed interview would mostly be about issues featured in the film.
I said I’d like to explore what Steven Gerrard’s wife says about him being an emotional person.
I was told not to reference his wife directly and instead say ‘in the film it says you’re an emotional person.’
— Ciaran Jenkins (@C4Ciaran) November 6, 2018
Steven Gerrard’s representative told me in no uncertain terms he would not talk about the attacks on Neil Lennon or the current discussion around sectarianism in Scottish football.
It was suggested I ask him in general terms what it’s like to be manager of Rangers.
— Ciaran Jenkins (@C4Ciaran) November 6, 2018
In a recent press conference Hibs manager Neil Lennon, who receives torrents of abuse said:
‘In Scotland you call it sectarianism, I call it racism..I’m just one person so I need more people to come out and call it what it really is.’
— Ciaran Jenkins (@C4Ciaran) November 6, 2018
So I hung about the Rangers training ground most of the day. I was told he wanted a chat before the interview.
But he didn’t show. Nobody came to explain or apologise.
(At least a few of the players said hello.) pic.twitter.com/rkrOQ58gWk
— Ciaran Jenkins (@C4Ciaran) November 6, 2018
Gerrard was offered the job of managing MK Dons when he retired from playing with LA Galaxy.
After talks with the club he declined the chance to take over and was later accepted an offer to manage Liverpool’s u-18 side while he worked towards getting his UEFA Pro Licence in coaching.
In May of this year he was offered the chance to take charge of Sevco and accepted a four year contract.
