Glasgow Times starts the discussion on Steven Gerrard’s replacement at Ibrox

The Glasgow (Evening) Times has started to debate Steven Gerrard’s successor at Sevco.

Over the last two days the Liverpool legend has been strongly linked with the vacant manager’s job at Aston Villa following the sacking of Dean Smith.

After three and a half seasons’ at Ibrox it is unlikely that Gerrard will get a better offer than the chance to manage Villa where former Liverpool Managing Director Christian Purslow is now the CEO.

Ironically the Glasgow Times is discussing Smith as a potential successor to Gerrard although Tommy Wright, Derek McInnes or Robbie Neilson are more realistic candidates.

ALLY MCCOIST would happily take former Aston Villa manager Dean Smith at Rangers if Steven Gerrard was to depart Ibrox.

The Liverpool legend is the heavy favourite to replace Smith at Villa after he was axed over the weekend.

Smith, who led the club back to the top flight, has paid the price for the team’s disappointing form this season with Villa having lost their last five games.

Friday’s 1-0 defeat at Southampton proved the final act for Smith, that result leaving the side with just 10 points from their opening 11 games.

A supporter wrote in to talkSPORT this morning asking McCoist if he would take Smith at Ibrox if Gerrard was to depart and he said: “I really like Dean Smith. I would have no problem with him being at my club.”

Five of the top six stories in the Ibrox section of the Glasgow Times are about Gerrard leaving. McCoist is unlikely to be a candidate for an emotional return to his old club after walking away in December 2014 soon after being drawn against Celtic in the League Cup.