Simon Jordan suspects Steven Gerrard has until the World Cup to steer Aston Villa back on track.
But the pundit reckons that's a tall order considering the former Rangers boss is no longer being "held up" by Michael Beale. Gerrard's right-hand man was appointed QPR boss back in June and is already being linked with a step up the Premier League.
Back at Villa, the under-fire manager is facing intense scrutiny with his side hovering dangerously above the relegation zone with 10 league matches played. Ex-Tottenham and Paris Saint-Germain manager Mauricio Pochettino has been touted as a potential replacement as he remains a free agent. On Monday night, Villa's communications director moved to deny a report that Gerrard had been sacked but Jordan believes time could well be running out for the Liverpool icon. He believes Gerrard's name and reputation means the spotlight was always destined to shine more intensely on his tenure as he admitted feeling the 42-year-old could be gone by the time Qatar 2022 kicks off in November.
Jordan told talkSPORT: "I suspect the Gerrard train, because of the name, because of the association, runs aground that much quicker because of the perception of expectation that surrounds him. He's been there for a year and I always thought it was a difficult job for him to take on, one fraught with risk, because I think the owners will be ambitious, the size of that football club will compel them to be ambitious.
"With that in mind, it puts Gerrard into focus. I do believe Gerrard was held up and supported by a very capable coaching operation, you'll make the case one of them has disappeared to QPR and look how well they're doing. Moments in time, let's see how they're doing at the end of the season.
"The point is with Gerrard and Pochettino, I've always maintained the viewpoint he will have a difficult and bumpy ride there and he's in the middle of a bumpy time. Pochettino is out of work and one of the things we always suggest is 'everyone's shouting for somebody out, who are you going to bring in?'
"Pochettino is a name that was round and about and might fit the bill and profile. He comes with his own challenges, he's still going to have to work within a framework of what Aston Villa are as opposed to what they might want to be. I'm not a huge admirer of his but I do believe if Gerrard doesn't change where it's going and quickly, leading up to the World Cup, he'll find himself in a very difficult position on Kerry Street."
