Chris Sutton Trolls Rangers After Steven Gerrard Rejects Ibrox Return – Again

Chris Sutton Trolls Rangers After Steven Gerrard Rejects Ibrox Return – Again

Chris Sutton has taken another cheeky swipe at Rangers after reports confirmed that Steven Gerrard has once again turned down the chance to return to Ibrox. The former Celtic striker and outspoken pundit couldn’t resist twisting the knife following Gerrard’s decision to walk away from talks with the struggling Scottish Premiership side for the second time in less than a year.

The news emerged late on Sunday that Gerrard, who is currently without a club after leaving Al-Ettifaq in Saudi Arabia earlier this year, had pulled out of negotiations with Rangers despite several days of what were described as “positive and constructive” discussions.

According to sources close to the talks, Gerrard even flew from Saudi Arabia to London to meet with club officials, suggesting he was seriously considering the proposal. However, after extensive conversations about the club’s current state and long-term plans, Gerrard ultimately decided the timing was “not right” to make his managerial comeback in Glasgow.

This latest U-turn has left many Rangers supporters frustrated and confused, especially since Gerrard had previously rebuffed an approach from the club over the summer before Russell Martin was appointed manager. Martin’s tenure, however, was short-lived. He was dismissed after a disastrous start to the season that has seen Rangers win just one of their opening seven league games. With five draws and one defeat, the club currently sits eighth in the Scottish Premiership table, already miles behind arch-rivals Celtic.

Given that context, Gerrard’s decision not to return to Ibrox feels like a fresh blow for a fanbase desperate for stability and hope. Many believed the former Liverpool captain could provide both. His previous spell in charge, from 2018 to 2021, saw him lead Rangers to their first league title in a decade  an invincible campaign that ended Celtic’s quest for ten-in-a-row. That achievement earned him enormous credit among supporters, even if he won only one major trophy out of a possible nine during his three-and-a-half-year tenure.

But not everyone was willing to let the situation pass without comment. Chris Sutton, Gerrard’s long-time media sparring partner and a frequent critic of Rangers, delivered his verdict with trademark sarcasm. Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Sutton wrote simply:

“He’s assessed the squad…”

The five-word post quickly went viral, with thousands of likes and shares from fans on both sides of the Old Firm divide. For Celtic supporters, it was classic Sutton — sharp, cutting, and perfectly timed. For Rangers fans, it was salt in the wound. The jab was widely interpreted as a dig at the current quality of the Rangers squad, implying that Gerrard took one look at the team’s form and decided to stay well clear.

Sutton’s comment also highlights the uncomfortable reality facing Rangers at the moment. The club is in disarray both on and off the pitch, struggling to find consistency and identity after several failed managerial appointments. The recruitment strategy has come under scrutiny, with several high-profile signings failing to perform, and the mood among fans has grown increasingly toxic.

For Gerrard, the decision to stay away might be as much about timing as loyalty. After a difficult stint at Aston Villa, followed by a brief and underwhelming period in Saudi Arabia, the 44-year-old is believed to be carefully considering his next move. Taking over a struggling Rangers side mid-season, with limited resources and sky-high expectations, could easily tarnish his reputation further if results didn’t improve quickly.

Still, the optics are not great for Rangers. Having reached out to a former hero and been turned down twice in a year, the club now faces an urgent search for an alternative. The question now is who will be brave enough, or perhaps foolish enough, to step into the hot seat at Ibrox.

As for Sutton, his parting shot summed up the mood perfectly. Rangers have become an easy target for mockery, and until results turn around, the jokes and the tweets are unlikely to stop.

And somewhere out there, Gerrard might be smiling quietly to himself, brown brogues polished, navy suit pressed, watching the chaos unfold from a safe distance.