The first steps to undermine Steven Gerrard have been taken by Kyle Lafferty and The Sun.
During two years of failure at Ibrox there has barely been a critical word heard about the results under the Liverpool legend.
Any attempt at debate or criticism is instantly met with comparisons to the position that the club was in before Gerrard took over.
Pedro Caixinha and Graeme Murty set a spectacularly low benchmark which has allowed Gerrard to escape criticism for two spectacular mid-season collapses and cup defeats to Aberdeen, twice and Hearts.
The presence of Gerrard in the dressing room, training ground or dug-out is referred to as inspirational by awe struck players but in an interview with Sim Ferry Lafferty paints a different picture.
According to the former Sunderland substitute first team coach Michael Beale is the brains behind the operation, putting in the graft while Gerrard gets the acclaim.
Picking up on his Open Goal interview The Sun reports:
The longer I was there I started to realise, Michael Beale, I think he’s the man behind it. No disrespect to Steven Gerrard who I think is an amazing manager, where he has taken the club from day one to now is night and day – he’s made Rangers a force again in the Premiership and Europe but Michael Beale is behind the scenes and I think he’s the brains behind it.
Tactically he’s amazing. I think if Gerrard went to Liverpool and Michael Beale stayed there wouldn’t be a change. I think Michael Beale is into everything, detail and he could step up to be manager because he’s that good.
Gerrard has more chance of winning the 2020 Europa League than succeeding Jurgen Klopp as Liverpool manager.