ALL good things must come to an end. The truth that hit Celtic hard almost three years ago is now sinking in for Rangers.

The sense of loss, the feelings of anger and frustration, will be similar in some quarters, but the situations of Brendan Rodgers and Steven Gerrard differ in many ways. In both scenarios, it was the timing that caused the issue, though.

Celtic fans were left incensed when Rodgers gave up a shot at nine-in-a-row for life in Leicester. And now Rangers supporters feel let down by Gerrard's decision to turn his back on 56 and join Aston Villa.

When Rodgers departed Parkhead, he left Celtic well on course for the title that Neil Lennon would ultimately guide them to. That is not the case with Gerrard, however.

Rangers are just four points clear of their Old Firm rivals in the Premiership title race and former Hoops striker John Hartson knows there will be upheaval at Ibrox as Gerrard prepares to cut ties with the champions.

“Similar to when Brendan Rodgers left Celtic, although Neil Lennon came in and steadied the ship," Hartson said.

“Brendan is in a different category to Steven. He had won Trebles, taken Swansea City to the Premier League for the first time in 30 years and finished second with Liverpool.

“Brendan won 10 trophies out of 10, so what he did at Celtic is a better scale than what Steven has done at Rangers, even though he had a hard job in stopping the Ten.

“Steven will be a huge figure to replace. He’s a huge name. He had the fans in the palm of his hands as he got the 55 as the fans say.

“He’s tough, he’s a presence, he doesn’t suffer fools, he makes sure training is right and everything is done properly with his assistants.

“That will all go up in smoke now if he goes, which it looks like. There will be a huge overhaul with staff.

"What happens with Alfredo Morelos? What happens with Ryan Kent? Glen Kamara? Joe Aribo? Steven Davis?

“All the guys he has brought to the club, will they start downing tools as they are not working for Steven anymore?

“It’s going to be upheaval, but Rangers are a huge club and there will be no shortage of managers who will want it, no problem.

“Rangers are a global club. It’s a huge job and many a person will come and take that role."

The loss of Gerrard, and especially at this stage of the campaign, is a huge blow for Rangers and the pressure is now on the Ibrox board to ensure Celtic aren't given the upper hand in the title race as a result.

The Liverpool legend will return south of the border having delivered a historic title last term. Only Gerrard can truly determine whether he leaves behind unfinished business in Glasgow.

Hartson said: “I think he’s done a good job. You have people down south saying he’s won the last two titles, they don’t have a clue or do their homework on Scottish football.

“They are saying that Aston Villa is a bigger club than Rangers. Rangers would fit Aston Villa in their back pocket.

“No disrespect. Aston Villa have won a European Cup, but Rangers and Celtic are massive clubs.

“I don’t go anywhere in the world without bumping into a Celtic fan. Nowhere. And Rangers are the same.

“Steven has done a good job, he built and built and won the league. They conceded 13 goals and that’s great defensive play.

“But last season, Rangers should have won the Treble. The way they lost to St Johnstone at home not handling the goalkeeper coming up for a corner and a set piece and the same at St Mirren when they went out of two cups very tamely.

“And, remember, Celtic were already out of those cups when both those games took place. A great job is winning a Treble.

"He did a good job winning the title, uniting the Rangers fans again the same as Ange Postecoglou is doing at Celtic this season. I genuinely felt he would have stayed at Rangers."

With Gerrard now heading for the Ibrox exit, the title race takes another twist as the Old Firm prepare for their respective cup semi-finals next weekend and then look to build momentum through a key run of Premiership fixtures heading into derby day.

The 41-year-old turned Rangers from hopeless challengers into invincible champions. Now the Glasgow power base could shift once again as Scottish football prepares to say farewell to its most high-profile figure.

“Steven was one of my favourite players," Hartson said. "I was a Liverpool fan growing up and Ian Rush was one of my heroes, who I played with at the national team.

“I have been to his charity golf day in Portugal a couple of years ago, he raises a lot of money. In terms of that, I admire him greatly as a Liverpool player.

“Then he becomes manager of Rangers, with 110 goals for Celtic, your professionalism takes over.

“He’s a superstar with what he did as a player. As a manager, there’s got to be an element there where he thinks: Rangers are a big club, when they brought him in there was a lot of work to do financially. They needed investment.

“They needed to root out the old-school mob who were there previously. Steven came in and changed the whole attitude of the club with the fans getting behind him.

“So we’ll miss that figure. We’ll miss his organisation, the relationship he has had with the board, although I don’t know what it’s like now.

“But definitely, Scottish football, and Rangers in particular, will be a less-attractive place with Steven Gerrard not as the manager.

“Big names will want the job. Good things don’t last forever.”

*The John Hartson Foundation has donated £50,000 to Breast Cancer Now, Scotland. The Hartson Foundation has raised more than £1million in the past decade.