Craig Moore has watched Rangers fight tooth and nail to keep hold of their top stars over the past two years.
And the former Ibrox defender expects Gers chiefs to scrap just as hard to fend off any attempt from Newcastle to lure away manager Steven Gerrard.
A host of bookies are now offering short odds on the Gerrard being named manager at St James Park after a Saudi-led consortium completed their eye-watering £305million Toon takeover.
That’s set alarm bells ringing in Govan, with the Light Blues faithful now fearing their title-winning boss will be top of the newly super-rich Geordies’ wish-list as they begin work on rebuilding a club that has been left to live on meagre rations under 14 years of Mike Ashley rule.
But Moore - who also spent two years on Tyneside - reckons Gers chairman Douglas Park will be ready to resist any offer for Gerrard having rebuffed offers for the likes of Ryan Kent, Alfredo Morelos and Nathan Patterson in recent times.
He told Record Sport : “I don’t know what Steven Gerrard’s career plan is but what I do know is that Rangers have managed to hold onto their star talent player wise.
“That suggests to me that they still believe there is still a lot that can be achieved with this team under the main man, which is the manager.
“So I don’t expect they will put themselves in a position where they keep their star players but lose their star manager.
“We’re only speculating on what is going to happen. The bookies don’t always get it right.
“There is going to be many stories floating about about what Newcastle may potentially look to do in regards to signings and managers. That’s just normal with all the excitement round the club right now that the takeover has been completed.
“But Steven Gerrard is doing a wonderful job at Rangers and I’m pretty sure he’s delighted with the way things are going.”
Moore played his final game for Newcastle just a month before Ashley swept into St James’ Park back in May 2007 promising to wake a sleeping giant.
But his disastrous tenure will instead be remembered for two relegations, a penny-pinching investment policy and broken relations with the Toon Army.
In Moore’s second season with the club, they made it to the last 16 of the UEFA Cup.
But they’ve only qualified for Europe once since then and failed to make a single domestic semi-final never mind challenge seriously for a trophy.
News of Ashley’s departure sparks wild scenes on Thursday as Geordies pure onto the streets to welcome a new era under their new Saudi owners.
And Moore hopes the loyal supporters finally get the payback they deserve now their club has climbed to the top of the global rich list.
He said: “We’re going to hear a lot of stories in the next few weeks and months about the potential direction Newcastle are going to head in.
“They will have a lot to work through but it’s definitely exciting times for every Geordie and hopefully a stronger future lies ahead.
“It’s been a tough grind these last 14 years.
“I remember when I first came over to the UK from Australia. At that time Kevin Keegan and the team he had then were so strong.
“They were able to recruit top talent like Les Ferdinand and David Ginola and there was a real connection with the supporters with the way the team were playing at that time.
“I’ve spoken to guys like Alan Shearer, Shay Given, Rob Lee and Warren Barton who were at the club a lot longer than me. They really enjoyed some good times at the club and have so many fond memories.
“It’s such a wonderful passionate supporters base up there but that has been missing over these past 14 years.
“But you can understand the excitement that is now sweeping round the place.
“There’s going to be a rebuild and hopefully it establishes that real strong connection with the supporters.
“Every season there is an expectation that Newcastle have to win a trophy, even when it’s been pretty unrealistic in recent seasons.
“They’ve been a long way off achieving that but those fans are desperate for success. It won’t happen overnight, even when you have the kind of money they have to spend.
“But I definitely see brighter times and success at last for the club moving forward.”
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