STEVEN GERRARD has been assured he still has the full backing of the Rangers board.
The Ibrox boss has come under mounting pressure following a horror run of domestic results.
Rangers boss Steven Gerrard has received a vote of confidence from the Ibrox boardCredit: PA:Press Association
Gerrard is facing a second season without silverware — but has been told chairman Dave King and his directors are behind him.
Asked if the board had expressed confidence that he will get things right, he said: “As a group they have.
“I don’t necessarily want to quote just Dave on that comment.
“I think the board have seen enough over the 20 months, with this same group of players, that they are capable of getting through this.
“Have I spoken to Dave? Yes, but I have regular contact with him.
“So I don’t want it to look as if he has supported me on the back of a few bad results. He has supported me since day one.
“This week, during the bad results, all the board have been there for me and been rock solid. I think any manager at this football club needs that.”
Rangers travel to Ross County before Ibrox clashes with Bayer Leverkusen and then Celtic in a massive week for Gers.
It’s a huge period for Gerrard and his under-fire players and he admits confidence is low in the Ibrox dressing room right now.
But he has challenged his players to stop he rot and get back to winning ways — starting in Dingwall.
Rangers chief Dave King has given the manager his backing despite their poor runCredit: PA:Press Association
He said: “It’s certainly a big week, there’s no denying that.
“We’re into the last 16 of the Europa League and the challenge of the opposition is naturally going to make those two huge, tough games.
“An Old Firm game in the middle of that double-header makes it a huge week for everyone at the club.
“But with all due respect my focus right now is on the next result and the next performance. Let’s try to get a bit of feel-good factor back.
“Hopefully we can go into those games on the back of taking three points against Ross County and feeling a bit better about ourselves.
“Of course confidence has been hit. A few things have been hit of late.
“This is a challenge for all of us to prove that we can get it right. That starts from today.
“We just have to really stick together in this moment and all pull in the right direction.
“I believe we will get through it quicker than some people on the outside think.”
Filip Helander is edging closer to a return for Rangers — but won’t feature in either game against Leverkusen.
The Swedish defender is back well ahead of schedule but can’t be restored to the Europa League squad.
Si Ferry pokes fun at Ally McCoist by saying -‘This is how you used to pick the Rangers team’ – when conducting the Scottish Cup semi-final draw
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
