Rangers icon Graeme Souness believes Steven Gerrard should snub any Newcastle approach and stick with Rangers.
Ibrox boss Gerrard is reportedly a leading contender alongside Belgian boss Roberto Martinez and Villarreal manager Unai Emery to succeed Steve Bruce.
A shake up in management at St James' Park seems inevitable following the cash-rich Saudi-led takeover that is at odds with a lacklustre start to the English Premier League season.
Souness reckons Liverpool legend Gerrard shouldn't even consider a move to Tyneside at this stage and should continue to develop in the Scottish Premiership.
The former Newcastle boss claims he would find it hard to work under the new owners given the Saudi regime's record on human rights.
He told Clyde 1 Superscoreboard: “I don’t think it’s one he should go near.
“My advice to him would be to stay where he is.
“Although he has been in the Rangers job for three years, he’ll realise that’s a short time in management.
“He’s still learning after three years – but he’ll still be learning after 23 years.
“I think he should wait, and he will wait, for the Liverpool job. It’s inevitable he’ll get offered it.
“I don’t see Jurgen (Klopp) being there beyond the next two or three years. If Steven ends up being Rangers manager for five or six years, that’s a great education for him.
“I don’t think there’s any lure at Newcastle - and when you look at the human rights aspect, I would find it hard to go and work for that club again with the new owners.
“I wouldn’t do it. I just would not do it."
Souness insists Gerrard's Rangers stint will be the best thing to prepare him for life at the Reds - as he walked the same path in 1991.
The veteran pundit said: “I’ve always maintained that managing at Rangers and Celtic is as difficult as it gets. I remember saying that to Martin O’Neill and he agreed.
“Simply because the focus is on you all the time.
“If you go down to England work for some clubs outside the top four or five and that scrutiny isn’t there.
“He’s getting a great education now for the next one which I think will be Liverpool."
