Glen Sather said there were “several” reasons he handed over the Rangers’ coaching duties to Tom Renney.

One, he wanted to put more of his focus on the March 9 trade deadline. Two, he felt this shakeup would provide a jolt to the team. Three, he wanted to silence the Garden chants he felt greatly distracted his team.

But for most of the players in yesterday’s packed-with-media locker room, there was only one reason Sather relinquished his coaching duties: their own shoddy play.

“The players have to take responsibility,” Bobby Holik said. “Everybody has a hand in this. It’s a nice gesture to take the blame off the players. The way he is, he’s protecting the players from the negative spotlight. But there’s a big mirror there, and we have to look at that mirror.”

Said Petr Nedved: “I think he’s trying to relieve the pressure off the players and put it onto himself.”

Mark Messier looked glum about the news. Remember, much criticism was heaped on Sather for the abundance of ice time given to his aging captain.

“It’s hard to see anyone singled out in this situation,” Messier said. “I know he’s extremely disappointed about what happened and how the season has gone.”

Sather was realistic about the Rangers’ playoff chances. He said the playoffs were “doubtful” and that now, as GM, he must decide whether to play for now or for the future.

“There’s 20 games left,” Sather said. “They’ve gotta work for their jobs.”

Messier offered only a “no comment” when asked about his job status.

Alex Kovalev gave a glorified no comment, saying, “It’s not in my control. It’s whatever they decide. If we’re not making the playoffs, we gotta show that we can win a hockey game.”

But Brian Leetch, whose name has often been brought up as a possible trade candidate, had a bit to say about what Sather’s decision means to his future in blue.

“Every year at this time it’s a different name [involved in trade rumors],” Leetch said. “Lately it’s been my name in the papers. They’ve been too good to me for too long for me to demand anything.”

* Eric Lindros worked out yesterday at the Rangers’ Westchester practice facility, but was not made available to the media.