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Leeds United and Leicester City warned over Rangers boss amid head-to-head Steven Gerrard manager talks
Carlton Palmer is not convinced either Leeds United or Leicester should be going for Steven Gerrard as their new manager, amid doubts of his ability without former assistant Michael Beale.
The ex-England captain won the league title at Ibrox with the current Rangers boss as his assistant two seasons ago before both left for Aston Villa in November 2021, but after Beale took his first job as a manager at QPR last summer Gerrard failed to see out a year in charge at Villa Park.
He has been out of work since that sacking in October and is now reportedly talking to both the Whites and the Foxes over the vacant manager positions at the two relegated sides [Football Transfers, 5 June], but former Leeds United player Palmer has doubts over the 43-year-old without Beale by his side.
BBC pundit Palmer told Football League World: “Both sets of supporters are not especially keen on the idea. Steven did a magnificent job at Rangers but the Scottish league is not comparable to the Premier League.
“It’s clearly apparent Steven was over reliant on his assistant Michael Beale, who has gone on to do well in his own right as a manager, firstly with QPR and now at Rangers.
“Just because he failed at Aston Villa doesn’t mean he shouldn’t get another opportunity. Both of these clubs will be looking for an immediate return to the Premier League, and I’m not sure if it’s the right time for either of these clubs to appoint Gerrard.”
Risky
Gerrard’s achievements at Rangers were highly impressive for a young manager in his first senior management role, and it may be that the Villa job simply came at the wrong time.
But at Elland Road the new 49ers regime can’t afford to take a gamble on anyone when their best chance of promotion back to the Premier League is likely to be at the first attempt while parachute payments are still in full effect.
Having spent over a week after relegation negotiating with Andrea Radrizzani over the sale of the club the American owners have likely lost ground on their rivals for a new face in the dug-out, so it may be that they are forced to settle for someone who wasn’t top of the list.
But whether that should be Gerrard, despite discussions apparently already having been initiated again after an approach in February after Jesse Marsch was sacked, is open to question.
Four months ago the succession plan proved to be highly flawed, with Michael Skubala left in charge before Javi Gracia was belatedly brought in from a way down the shortlist, and ultimately it didn’t work.
If Leeds United find themselves in a similar position again this time they will have to hope they can strike gold or the stay in the Championship will extend past a single season.
Perhaps Gerrard has a point to prove and can be the face of the new era, but the new hierarchy needs to be very sure about how much of his previous success was down to the man who is now back at Ibrox in the top job.
In other Leeds United news, a familiar figure is set for a crucial role after the 100% takeover agreement.