ALLY MCCOIST has warned that a move to Aston Villa could be a huge risk for Rangers boss Steven Gerrard.

Most bookmakers are offering odds of around 6/4 for the Ibrox manager to be tempted down south by the role, while Denmark boss Kasper Hjumland (4/1), former Villa assistant John Terry (4/1), ex-Roma manager Paulo Fonesca (4/1) and Chelsea legend Frank Lampard (12/1) are also in the frame.

McCoist reckons the Villa job will tempt Gerrard and he believes that the Liverpool legend will have a big decision to make.

Speaking on talkSPORT, he said: “Oh no, I think he can go straight to Liverpool. He absolutely can.

“I just think there’s a greater risk (going to Aston Villa first), but it is a possibility.

“What is the gauge of success now at Villa? Is it top eight? Top six?

“Unfortunately Dean Smith wasn’t given time and I think he should have been.

“I’m very well aware how cut-throat the business is now.

“Simon is right in everything he says apart from one thing, for some reason he doesn’t believe you can go straight from Rangers to Liverpool.

“That baffles me, considering it has been done before.

“He’s right in what he says about the league and the quality of it and there’s only effectively two teams that can win it.

“But with that comes more pressure. So it’s a big, big decision if the reports are right that Villa are to make an approach to speak to Steven at Rangers.

“Rangers are well within their rights to say ‘no we aren’t letting you talk to him’ which would be interesting.”

Rangers are currently top of the Scottish Premiership after landing title number 55 last season.

Asked about Gers' season so far, McCoist continued: “It’s quite simple; if you don’t win the league you’re deemed a failure.

“That’s the bottom line. The Rangers and Celtic manager, apart from a couple of times in the past, just has to beat the opposite manager.

“It would be damaging if he didn’t retain it. It’s a big decision to weigh everything up.

“Celtic look more strong now than they did last year so it looks like there will be a proper fight for the title.”