Steven Gerrard intervenes as rumours swirl around dramatic Rangers push to bring former Ibrox icon back

Steven Gerrard has stepped forward in support of the Rangers players’ push to bring Jim McAlister back to the club, after McAlister recently won a tribunal ruling for unfair dismissal. The former Liverpool and England captain has provided a strong reference on McAlister’s behalf to the Ibrox leadership.

McAlister, a lifelong supporter of Rangers and former SPFL player, was let go from the club three years ago, a decision that affected him deeply. His dismissal was later found to be in breach of contract by a Glasgow tribunal, resulting in the club being ordered to pay him £13,000.

After his departure, Luke Murphy took on McAlister’s previous role, having been brought in by then-manager Michael Beale, who knew Murphy from Liverpool. However, Murphy has since left, and Rangers are currently searching for a replacement. Both new manager Russell Martin and sporting director Kevin Thelwell are reportedly open to bringing McAlister back, leaving the final decision with chief executive Patrick Stewart.

McAlister had established himself as a well-liked figure among the players, having previously worked as an assistant to long-serving kitman Jimmy Bell, who passed away suddenly. Gerrard, who initially hired McAlister during his time as Rangers manager, even brought him to Al Ettifaq in the Saudi Pro League to assist behind the scenes.

McAlister’s popularity was evident when he returned to Ibrox for a match against Hearts last year, with Leon Balogun sharing a photo of the two together after the game, accompanied by the message: “Great to have you back home. You are missed.”

Following his legal victory, McAlister spoke candidly about the emotional toll of his dismissal. He said: “As you can imagine, being wrongly accused is a personal trauma, but also a trauma for my immediate family and friends, all of whom of course, knew there was no factual basis for the allegations. I also learned the strength of the Rangers family and football community and their sense of justice and fairness. I wanted to thank all those who took the time to post support for me and my family and who also sent person messages.”

A native of the Isle of Bute, McAlister enjoyed a long playing career, notably making over 350 appearances for Morton during two separate spells and representing Hamilton, Dundee, and Blackpool. He played in the Scottish Premiership with Dundee and helped win three lower-league titles in the country.

In 2021, McAlister abruptly retired from playing, with the club announcing his departure as a move to pursue a new career path. The current vacancy at Rangers, along with public and private backing from figures such as Gerrard, has increased speculation that McAlister could soon be making a return to the club where he remains highly regarded.