Barry Ferguson might not be 49ers Enterprises’ first choice to be the 20th permanent manager of Rangers Football Club.
But the former Ibrox captain is putting in one heck of an audition.
Since Barry Ferguson came into Rangers, the treble-winning Ibrox captain has restored a sense of pride to the Rangers squad.
Victories over Fenerbahce and Celtic have buoyed a frustrated Rangers support with a Europa League quarter final v Athletic Bilbao on the horizon.
But with the US takeover of Rangers potentially set to be strung out until the end of May, there remains uncertainty over what happens next season at Ibrox.
Ferguson has the backing of Lee McCulloch, a former Rangers teammate who insists Barry has brought something back to Ibrox.
Now, one leading journalist reckons that Rangers should throw their weight behind Ferguson early with much work to be done even before the 49ers take charge.
Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images
Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images
‘Rangers should hand Barry Ferguson job BEFORE US takeover’
Mark Guidi reckons that such is the timing of the Rangers takeover, the Ibrox hierarchy should be offering Barry Ferguson a one-year deal at Ibrox.
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Speaking on the GO Radio Football Show (26/03/25), Guidi argues that with a string of major decisions over the playing squad heading into the summer, delaying the decision until June risks the club’s pre-season preparations falling into disarray.
“Rangers as a football club, they are bigger than a takeover or any one person,” Mark Guidi started.
”For whatever reason, it’s delayed until the start of June; I don’t think you can wait that long.
”There’s so many big decisions to be made, so many small decisions, but they all add up and they’re all important.
”Who’s staying? Who’s going? Who do you want to sign? Where we going in pre-season? Etc etc.
”You can’t wait until the start of June to make all those decisions. You need clarity at a football club.”
This has Guidi tipping Rangers to give Ferguson the job full-time if the takeover cannot be pushed through before the end of the season.
🗣️ “We deserved it”
🗣️ “That’s what it takes to play with Rangers”
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Barry Ferguson reflects on Rangers’ 3-2 win at Celtic Park & Vaclav Cerny's celebration ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/sgjoNAFglu
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”I would think the Rangers hierarchy have said it,” Guidi explains.
“If it’s not decided in the next couple of weeks I would give Barry Ferguson and his staff the job
”Give them a one-year deal, let them crack on, let them go and make the decisions.
”The supporters know what’s happening, the players know what’s happening.
”If any new investors come in and don’t fancy him, fine, square him up and let him go, but give him a crack of the whip.”
Former Celtic star Peter Grant agrees, and reckons that as Ferguson talks up Vaclav Cerny, a lack of clarity over the manager could see the Wolfsburg loanee opt for a move elsewhere.
The former Parkhead player has also warned that Celtic will continue to be the picture of stability under Brendan Rodgers heading into next season.
”I agree with Mark 100%,” said ex-Celtic star Peter Grant. “You’re talking about Cerny there a minute ago.
”He’s on loan, he wants to stay by all accounts, but he doesn’t know who the manager is. It’s so important that people know the manager.
Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images
Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images
“Brendan Rodgers will be talking about next season for Celtic, no matter what he’s not taking his eye off the ball.
”But you have the next two seasons, the next four windows, and that is the way you have to do it.
”The new manager coming doesn’t know that at at this minute in time, but he’s going to still have the same problems.
”If they’re going to give the Barry the job they should say to him now.”
Barry Ferguson shuts down journalist questions on manager future
Barry Ferguson meanwhile refuses to be drawn on his Rangers future.
The former Ibrox captain was handed the reins on an interim basis following the sacking of Philippe Clement earlier in March.
Since then Ferguson has impressed but with the manager only one month through a three month audition, the Gers boss insists his focus is solely on the job at hand between now and the end of the season.
Ferguson was speaking ahead of the trip to Dundee and rebuffed questions on what happens next.
“My focus is on winning games of football right now,” Ferguson said. “I’m not focusing on my future, other player’s futures, whether they’re on loan or they’re out of contract.
“I need to make sure that I’ve got a team that’s going to be going out on the pitch certainly come Saturday at 5:30 at Dundee and making sure we’re coming back down the road with three points, that’s the things that I need to focus on.
“You’re trying your best and I respect that you’re trying. But I’ve got to be honest with you, I’m not even thinking further ahead than the last day of the season. Seriously.
“I have been brought in and do a job and that was to try and get and results. If I look at the period of games that I’ve been in I think it’s been OK, decent. It needs to be better and that’s my aim over the next couple of months, making sure we consistently start to get results.”