The club are ramping up their search for a new boss after Ferguson's interim spell came to an end
18:13, 19 May 2025
Steven Gerrard
Steven Gerrard(Image: Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno, Getty Images)
Craig Moore reckons that the next Rangers manager will be experienced and British after speaking with Barry Ferguson following his Ibrox exit.
And Steven Gerrard has been floated with odds tumbling over the prospect of a return to the club for the Liverpool icon.
Ferguson's short stint as Rangers boss was brought to an end on Sunday after the end of the Scottish Premiership campaign - but CEO Patrick Stewart insisted the search for Philippe Clement's successor is well underway.
The 49ers Enterprises group alongside Andrew Cavenagh are set to take control of the club in the coming weeks - and Moore reckons that a decision over the new man in the dugout has been made.
The former Light Blues' defender was quick to pick up the phone to his old teammate after his interim tenure came to and end.
He told the Go Radio Football Show: "I did manage to get ahold of Barry once I heard the breaking news, and it's fair to say he was disappointed.
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"He felt very empty, because he felt he could do a real job there.
"He felt he had a real clear vision of what he could do and what needed to be done, but by all accounts the decision-makers at Rangers want to go down a more experienced path.
"So, it will be interesting to see who that particular person is. The one word that maybe I still don't think the new people get - they still think Rangers is a project.
"And Barry was very clear, as I am and I'm sure a lot of Rangers supporters are, Rangers is not a project club.
"It's about getting a club that can go and win trophies. It will be interesting to see who the person is going to be, they must hit the ground running.
"As great a club as Rangers are in terms of their support, if it doesn't start well the support will fade, and fade very quickly in my opinion.
"I think the club will now be put under huge pressure to announce a coach, because Barry has been in three months - they have not made a decision on Sunday.
Barry Ferguson
Barry Ferguson
"Again, I think it's fair for the supporters (to ask), who is the coach? You need to actually let people know - because there has to be some kind of understanding or excitement of what you are coming back to in the off-season."
Davide Ancelotti is among the frontrunners for the vacancy - but is expected to link up with dad Carlo at Brazil when he leaves Real Madrid for just two games.
But Moore reckons that goes against what he has heard about who will be appointed - with Gerrard's name on the agenda after lifting the title in 2021.
Asked about the prospect of Ancelotti Jr and his "experience" in Madrid, the Australian said: "But not as a head coach. He has zero experience. That doesn't fit the criteria.
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"It's a hard job to do from Rio, isn't it? But Gerrard's odds have been slashed again because he had the success, therefore you can say he has the experience.
"He is a name that has never really disappeared. Another one with the Everton link (to new sporting director Kevin Thelwell) is Dyche.
"So, just from the information that we are getting it's experience, experience, experience. For me it will be a British coach. For me, the club need to make an announcement and they need to make it quick-smart."