Timing of vacancy understood not to suit former England and Liverpool midfielder who led Scottish giants to league title in 2020-21

Steven Gerrard has ruled himself out of the running to return to Rangers, according to reports.

The 45-year-old had been the front-runner to replace the sacked Russell Martin as head coach, but it is understood that after holding talks with the club, he felt the timing was not right for a return to Ibrox.

Martin was sacked last weekend after just four months in charge, with the team having won only one of their opening seven Scottish Premiership matches.

Gerrard, who left his role in charge of Saudi Arabian side Al-Ettifaq in January, is a hero to many Rangers supporters after leading them to the title in 2020-21, which remains the only time they have won the league since their financial implosion in 2012.

The former England and Liverpool midfielder left the club later that year after three years in charge to take over at Aston Villa.

Other names to have been touted as potential successors to Martin include Hearts manager Derek McInnes, former Rangers player Kevin Muscat and ex-Everton manager Sean Dyche.

Gerrard was on the club’s longlist of managerial candidates at the end of last season when Rangers looked for a replacement for Philippe Clement but the club instead went for Martin.

Speaking last week on the Rio Ferdinand Presents podcast, Gerrard said: “I’ve had five or six really interesting phone calls since I stopped in Saudi. And I haven’t been ready because I haven’t got that team set around me. And the timing hasn’t been right. My daughter’s just had a baby. I’ve just become a granddad. I wasn’t ready. I haven’t got my staff ready.

“So unfortunately, them opportunities or them phone calls have come at the wrong time, if you like. But if the right call comes my way, the right club, the right challenge, and I’ve got my people set, which I will have at some point, I’ll take that challenge on because it’s in me. It’s in me.”