DEREK MCINNES believes the arrival of Steven Gerrard at Ibrox can only be a positive for the image of Scottish football.

The Liverpool legend is closing in on a deal to become the new Rangers boss and will go head-to-head with his former Anfield manager Brendan Rodgers next term.

Gerrard won’t take charge of any of the Gers’ final three games in the Premiership despite the sacking of Graeme Murty this week.

Murty was appointed until the end of the campaign after McInnes rejected a return to Ibrox in December.

It is Gerrard that the Pittodrie boss will face next term and he has welcomed the deal to bring the former England midfielder north of the border this summer.

McInnes said: “The prospect of a global name like Steven Gerrard coming into the Scottish game can only be seen as a good thing.

“I would prefer him as a player, because what a player he was. And a fantastic leader of men at Liverpool and for England.

“So obviously he is taking his first steps on the coaching side of it and maybe into the management side of it.

“I think Scottish football, at the minute, there is a lot of good and a lot of positivity about it.

“There are a lot of good managers, a lot of high-profile managers and managers that have managed at a higher level and certainly Steven, if he was to come into it, on the back of his playing career, would certainly be a box-office name and that can only help the Scottish game.”

While McInnes will look to lead Aberdeen to victory over Hibernian this weekend, he will surely have one eye on the action at Ibrox as Rangers host Kilmarnock.

Jimmy Nicholl and Jonatan Johansson will take charge of the Light Blues following Murty’s departure this week.

The former Under-20s boss wasn’t given the chance to see out the season as he paid the price for the Old Firm defeat to Celtic at Parkhead.

And McInnes was sad to see Murty, and former Morton boss Jim Duffy, leave the game in recent days.

He said: “I’m disappointed that another manager has lost his job.

“Last week, Jim Duffy and Graeme Murty lost their jobs.

“One was starting out in his first job. Jim has been around the block but it is still the same equal sadness and disappointment when you see good people lose their jobs. It is disappointing.

“But, that is the nature. We all get into it knowing sometimes that these things are very harsh and unfair on managers and it is important to enjoy the good days when you are managing as well as the tough times.”