Steven Gerrard has lifted the lid on the doubts he had about returning to Rangers last year - with recruitment being one major reason.
The Scottish Premiership title winner held discussions with the Ibrox hierarchy in 2025 about a potential comeback as the club sought to replace Russell Martin.
Ultimately the 46-year-old opted against making what would have been an emotional return to Glasgow and he put that down to issues he had with signing players.
The iconic midfielder also acknowledged that family comes first and a switch to Scotland would mean not seeing his wife and kids who are still based in Bahrain from his time with Saudi side Al-Ettifaq.
"In all honesty, I loved my time there. I've got a real affection for Rangers. As it was well documented, I was close to going back for Round 2.
“I watch the team and the club from afar now. I watch every game, I follow every game. And as I say, they'll always have a special place for me. I'm really looking forward and I'm excited for Derek (McInnes) now, going into the new season with a fresh start in pre-season.
“I think he's been backed so far. Hopefully he'll get a bit more backing before the season and the transfer window's out. I think Derek's a Rangers man. He looks like a Rangers manager to me. I’ve competed against him and I’ve got nothing but respect for him.
"I'll give him every support he needs moving forward. I wish him and the team every bit of success in the short, medium and long term. And listen, I'm very much Rangers from afar. I wish them well.”
Speaking specifically on his return chance, Gerrard was honest. "Listen, I considered it very deeply,” he told Andy Halliday and Paul Slane on Open Goal. “It wasn't 100 percent right from a family point of view. I had to really change my family's lives taking them to the Middle East. I had to convince them to take that project on. We had to change schools, we had to change a lot of things.
“And what I didn't want to do was just go missing on my family and go to Scotland and leave them in the Far East. So that was one big hurdle and one big obstacle. The other one was I had a few doubts around recruitment.
“I had a few doubts around the possibility of the team winning quickly because I didn't think the second time I would have got the time and the chance to build something. I think going in for the second time, it would have been about winning now.
“So I had a few doubts and insecurities that didn't feel right. So all things considered, I was 80-90 percent there - but I just couldn't get myself to the right place. And listen, the decision came down to the respect for the club and the respect for the fans.
“And respect for maybe I wasn't just the right man at that time. That doesn't mean I won't be the right man further down the line. Who knows? But I hope they go on now and they're really successful under Derek.”
