Rangers are preparing for another season of trying to stop Celtic.

They have not won the Scottish Premiership since the 2010/11 season, having dropped out of the league due to administration in 2012.

The 2019/20 season was curtailed due to the COVID-19 pandemic but they never really stood much chance of overcoming Neil Lennon’s side.

Indeed, Celtic lost just two games all season in the top-flight and ended the campaign with 80 points from 30 games, a yawning 13 points clear of Steven Gerrard’s men.

Rangers are comfortably the second-best side in Scotland, however, as they were 21 points clear of third-placed Motherwell at the time of the curtailment.

Their form has led to interest in their manager, and that perhaps shouldn’t be a surprise, given the way he has managed affairs at Ibrox; Rangers lost just four games in the top-flight.

Football Insider reports that Bristol City made an approach for the ex-Liverpool captain, having sacked Lee Johnson at the start of July.

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Bristol ultimately finished 12th in the Championship and it is reported that they wanted Gerrard to become their new boss.

They are hoping to win promotion next season, hence the approach for the Reds legend, and they were hoping to give Gerrard a deal that would have topped his current £2.5 million-per-year salary.

That would have made him the highest-paid manager in the Championship but he has opted to snub the approach from The Robins.

Gerrard is said to be hopeful of spearheading Rangers’ push to end their trophy drought and potentially usurping Celtic in the process.

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As a result, Bristol have instead focused their attention on appointing former Brighton & Hove Albion boss Chris Hughton.

GIVEMESPORT’S Harry Sherlock says…

This is a show of faith from Gerrard in the project at Rangers.

He clearly believes that they can become champions in Scotland, or he would have jumped at the offer to potentially boost his bank balance, and also his profile, in England.

Instead, he is looking to stop Celtic’s march; they can seal a 10th consecutive title next season if they end up finishing top.

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Gerrard has been with Rangers since 2018 and has finished second in both of his seasons in charge.

He is clearly banking on it being third time lucky next term, to the chagrin of Bristol.

Hughton, though, is a highly effective manager and would be an excellent appointment, though he may not offer the same amount of prestige as Gerrard in the dugout.