Rangers great Ally McCoist believes Steven Gerrard has taken a "gamble" moving to Aston Villa.

McCoist feels Smith was hard done by. He feels that the 50-year-old should have been handed more time to get the best out of his new-look team.

And McCoist, who hit out at Gerrard for showing a lack of manners to Rangers, also believes the Liverpool legend has taken a 'gamble' by succeeding Smith.

“It's the best league in the world and Villa are a top team, I really like Villa," he told TalkSPORT.

"I'm gutted for Dean Smith, I think he should have been given more time.

"In terms of Steven going there, I still think it's a gamble, I really do, but any job's a gamble."

Insisting that he thinks Gerrard's predecessor should succeed the former England star, McCoist added: "By the way I said that yesterday. I would take Dean Smith. I would."