Former Rangers chief makes astonishing Steven Gerrard to Aston Villa claim in scathing attack

Aston Villa have learned from a new perspective some interesting details surrounding Steven Gerrard's move to the club from Scottish Premiership side Rangers

Former Rangers chairman Dave King has made a surprise new claim, stating that Steven Gerrard was 'kicked out' of the Scottish club to go to Aston Villa and did in fact not wish to leave.

Back in 2021, Gerrard was arguably the hottest product on the managerial market having just taken Rangers to their 55th league title - unbeaten whilst doing so, their first in a decade that simultaneously denied bitter rivals Celtic a 10th-in-a-row. This added to his CV, the former Liverpool and England midfielder was officially turning heads in the Premier League.

And it would be Villa to make the successful move for the coach, only three months into the following season. Their dismissal of Dean Smith opened up the vacancy and from a West Midlands perspective he jumped at an opportunity to move to an elite league - something he may have had to wait to do if not at that stage.

However, Villa are finding out this may not have actually been the case, direct from the man that was responsible for bringing Gerrard to Scotland in the first place.

"Steven was absolutely was kicked out," King said via the Daily Record, as part of a scathing attack on the Ibrox boardroom which he departed before Gerrard's move to Villa. He feels their shared vision to get the Gers back to the top of Scottish football and then keep them there had been squandered by allowing the Liverpudlian to move on.

Wanting those in power currently to step aside, he continued: "I have no doubts about that. Steven did not want to leave at that point in time. He would have left, but not then. It's absolutely true that we went backwards from that point. It was the ethos, the standards, everything about the club that Steven instilled. Then we started to go down from there."

Gerrard would only last just shy of the 12-month mark at Villa Park, having taken the club to a mixed end to the 2021/22 campaign before winning only two of 12 opening games before the winter World Cup in the next term. Unai Emery was appointed as replacement, and of course the club have not looked back since.

The 44-year-old is now head coach at Saudi Pro League side Al-Ettifaq. With the furore subsided over that controversial move, he now has that club sat joint-top of the division with three wins in three to start the new season. Rangers meanwhile have gone back into a slump, failing to win the Scottish Premiership in the last three seasons, with Celtic gunning for a record-equalling 55th triumph themselves this term.

Should Gerrard have stayed at Rangers over moving to Villa? Let us know your thoughts HERE

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