Graeme Souness has struck a significant blow to Philippe Clement by confirming that Frank Lampard was his choice to take over from Micky Beale at Ibrox.
The former Liverpool boss was drafted into the recruitment process to lend credibility to the search led by John Bennett and James Bisgrove with most bears welcoming the involvement of Souey as a reassuring throwback to a time when their club won trophies.
Souness is hammering out the financial terms of an unspecified role at Ibrox but is now on record as not wanting Clement in the manager’s job.
Covering an appearance live on air on Thursday afternoon, TalkSPORT reports:
When asked by Jordan if he supported the arrival of Lampard as manager, Souness said live on air: “Aye. There were two outstanding candidates, Frank and Philippe, who got the job.
“The final say was not with me. For me, Frank had the edge because of this. Frank has a great deal to offer in terms of management. I think if you analyse him taking the Chelsea job when he did, it was always going to be very, very difficult.
“I think taking the Everton job is a basket case. Have they improved since Frank has left? Not a bit.
“So I would not be too harsh to judge Frank. I know you were critical of him, Simon, but I think he is a football man, through and through.
“The thing that encouraged me about Frank when I met him is that he wanted to do it, he doesn’t need the money, he wants to be a football manager, a successful football manager and he fancied the Rangers job.
“That is a hard place to work in the west of Scotland. Fortunately, it went well for me but I know how difficult it is.”
A year ago Souness was mocking Brighton for recruiting Roberto De Zerbi by Google, whenever things get too much for Clement it will either be Souness or Lampard that steps in as Caretaket.
5 minutes 50 seconds
Graeme Souness – a man who fell for a hoax and signed a player pretending to be George Weah’s cousin – suggests that Roberto De Zerbi knows nothing about English football and everything he claims to know is googled https://t.co/CattDSVB06
— Nooruddean (@BeardedGenius) September 20, 2022
Graeme Souness
£30k EBT RecipientNo Tax Paid – #CollectThemAll@ScottishFA @HMRCgovuk pic.twitter.com/mtntoanKPs
— RhebelRhebel (@RhebelRhebel) March 24, 2018
He will always be known as Graeme Penis in our house…Arrogant fud.
It only ‘fortunately went well for me’ (him) thanks to Bank of Scotland (ultimately taxpayers) money…
Unfortunately for the last three years of his tenure at Liebrox these taxes were partly funded by me –
Thankfully none has went to Wastemonster Westminster for the last 26 years from me !
I was living in Southampton during the time he was manager and remember the Ali.Dia episode. Now if after supposedly 10 minutes he knew that the guy was a dud … what was he watching during the training sessions during the week before the match ? It’s not as if he turned up on the day with his boots ready to play !!
Another thing he mentioned that Everton hadn’t improved since Lampard had left … it could be argued that they hadn’t improved in the time he was there …. so to quote Kevin Keegan … I would love it if he went to Ipox … love it … especially as the other lot were kacking themselves that Fwank was going to get the job !