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Former Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard has shown support for the campaign within the Rangers dressing room to bring back former kitman Jim McAlister to the Scottish club.
Lifelong Gers supporter, McAlister, won his claim against the Scottish club for unfair dismissal in December, leading to Ibrox bosses being ordered to pay him £13,000 ($17,500). McAlister, a former professional soccer player, was harshly dismissed three years ago from his role as chief kitman, having joined Rangers in 2021, a decision that deeply affected him.
Luke Murphy replaced him, already known to then-manager Michael Beale from his time at Liverpool. But Murphy has since departed Ibrox.
Rangers are now recruiting for the position. The Daily Record reports that captain James Tavernier and other influential figures at Ibrox are eager to see McAlister return to the role, despite his current position as kitman for the Scottish Football Association.
New manager Russell Martin and sporting director Kevin Thelwell are also thought to be open to the idea. The final decision now rests with the chief executive, Patrick Stewart.
McAlister was extremely popular among the players, having stepped up from his role as assistant to the long-serving Jimmy Bell when he passed away suddenly in 2022. The 39-year-old was hired during Gerrard's managerial tenure.
The Liverpool icon even brought him to Al-Ettifaq to assist behind the scenes in the Saudi Pro League.
During his first appearance back at Ibrox since being dropped for a Hearts fixture last year, ex-Rangers center-back Leon Balogun shared an image of himself with McAlister taken after the match.
Balogun accompanied the photograph with a Union Jack flag and blue heart emoji, posting: "Great to have you back home. You are missed."
The Record now claims that Gerrard, who turned down a Rangers return earlier this year, has provided a glowing testimonial to the club's hierarchy in a bid to help secure his comeback to the squad.
A Glasgow employment tribunal ruled that Ibrox officials were responsible for McAlister's "unfair dismissal", determining they had committed a "breach of contract" regarding his exit. He candidly discussed the "personal trauma" he endured following his successful tribunal case.
"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," he said.
"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."
McAlister, who was raised on the Isle of Bute, turned out more than 350 times for Morton across two spells at Cappielow and also featured for Hamilton, Dundee, and Blackpool.
He enjoyed two campaigns in Scotland's premier division as part of a three-year spell with Dundee and claimed all three lower-league crowns north of the border.
Nevertheless, McAlister shocked the football world in 2021 by announcing his abrupt retirement from the game, with the club confirming his departure was "to pursue a career elsewhere."
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