Former Rangers striker Kris Boyd claims that manager Steven Gerrard will be aware that taking on the Newcastle job would be a “poisoned chalice”.

The Magpies are expected to sack current head coach Steve Bruce, with Gerrard said to be in the frame to take over at St James’ Park, but Boyd claims the size of the rebuilding job at Newcastle is unlikely to appeal to the Gers boss:

“Newcastle are a fragmented shambles. It is going to take a considerable amount of money and time to get this club to where the owners want it. Whoever replaces Bruce won’t be afforded the latter. It makes it something of a poisoned chalice for me and Steven will be aware of that too.”

Gerrard, himself, has been rather more coy about the position at the English Premier League club. While he said he was committed to Rangers, he did not explicitly say he wasn’t interested in the Magpies job.

The fact that Bruce is still in charge meant he would not speculate on the matter, but he did acknowledge that he was keeping a close eye on what is happening on Tyneside following the takeover. We shall see if the rumours intensify over the coming weeks.