Sky Sports News chosen to share Gerrard Walking Away Bingo

Sky Sports News has been chosen to deliver the sugar-coated version of Steven Gerrard’s Ibrox knock-back.

Everything at the club is really bright and rosy. Gerrard was hugely impressed by The Americans (no longer the 49ers) but somehow a deal just couldn’t be done.

MESSAGING

Last week Sky Sports News were among the chief messengers.

Send them a positive update, they publish, others follow and fans get a helping of good news.

Win, win. Everyone gets what they need, perfect news management.

Despite a dozen legacy outlets being in the loop no-one managed to get a picture of Gerard or Andrew Cavenagh in London.

Was it all a stunt? Did it really happen? Or was it just a cunning plan by a club clueless from top to bottom?

On Monday Sky Sports News attempted to close the cycle. Strangely they had no pictures or direct quotes. Just a comforting narrative to cover the chaos.

The sub-headline reads:

Former boss Steven Gerrard held talks with Rangers last week, but felt the timing wasn’t right for a return to Ibrox; Danny Rohl has impressed the Gers hierarchy during discussions and is among the candidates in contention for the role; Rangers host Dundee Utd on Saturday in the league

Breaking them in gently, all will be fine for Saturday…

The 45-year-old was the fans’ favourite to replace Russell Martin – but Sky Sports News revealed that timing was a factor for the former Liverpool captain.

Yeah… so why hold two days of widely leaked constructive talks?

He was always open to discussions as he still holds a great affinity for the club and its fanbase. He thoroughly enjoyed his time in Glasgow but still feels there is an element of unfinished business.

Really? A strange way of showing that. Knocking the job back twice in five months.

However, his personal situation – and Rangers’ current predicament – meant that it wasn’t going to be a straightforward conversation. For one, he still lives in Bahrain with his family.

What predicament? They are now owned by the San Francisco 49ers and are the richest club in Europe.

Discussions on Thursday were described as “constructive” and even progressed further on Friday, with Gerrard sounding out Gary McAllister, Jermain Defoe and Steve Holland as his potential backroom team – were he to be offered the job.

So constructive that he bolted on Saturday.

Around £34m was spent but Rangers failed to reach the Champions League, lost their opening two Europa League games and are eighth in the Scottish Premiership – 11 points off leaders Hearts and nine behind rivals Celtic.

The first time that the figure of £34m has been made public. For one win in seven in a two horse race.

Despite those talks between Gerrard and Rangers being open and constructive, the timing for this project was not right for him.

A very strange definition of constructive. Still clinging to that description.

Gerrard is said to have been impressed with the owners and their plans for Rangers, and he would welcome talks with the club in the future.

Taking things too far. Making Sky Sports News as credible and reliable as the club that they are feeding off.

THROUGH THE SPIN

Most legacy outlets will take their lead from Sky Sports News, destroying any credibility that they retain.

Even the Gullible & Deluded can see through the spin being applied to Gerrard rejecting a return.

If he is so impressed by the owners why has he knocked the job back? Why hold two days of talks when timing is an issue?

None of these questions will be answered as a desperate hunt gets underway to find someone out of work to say YES.

Regardless of who is appointed there will barely be a word of criticism from the legacy publishers- even though the bears are now seeing through the alternative realities that they are being force fed.