Barry Ferguson has stepped into the role of head coach for Rangers, succeeding Philippe Clement with a contract valid until the season's end. Despite facing criticism regarding his limited experience at the top-flight level, Ferguson remains unfazed, asserting that the team has underperformed domestically. He takes charge as Rangers trail 16 points behind Celtic and have faced earlier exits in both the League Cup final and the Scottish Cup.
Ferguson is optimistic about his new role, having appreciated the "attitude" and "appetite" demonstrated by the players since his arrival. His coaching team includes Allan McGregor, Neil McCann, and Billy Dodds, each bringing valuable expertise to the setup. McGregor will focus on goalkeepers including Jack Butland and Liam Kelly, while Dodds and McCann will be instrumental in training and set-pieces.
"There's not going to be wholesale changes overnight, that takes a bit of time, but I also understand that you don't get much time here." – Barry Ferguson
Ferguson has only been in charge for one training session but is determined to make an impact. He emphasizes the importance of responding robustly to criticism, preparing his team meticulously for their upcoming match against Kilmarnock on Wednesday. Despite the short time frame, he assures that his squad is ready for battle.
"I've only had one training session but I'm not going to use that as an excuse. I've prepared them in the right manner and then we'll go down to Kilmarnock looking to get the three points." – Barry Ferguson
The newly appointed coach is committed to instilling grit, determination, and desire within his team. He aims to channel his own experiences from challenging times at Ibrox to motivate his squad during this crucial period.
"You're going to see a team full of grit, determination, desire, and a team that's going to go and try and win the game of football. That's what you'll see from my team, you'll see a team that's fully committed to the cause." – Barry Ferguson
Criticism over his lack of experience does not deter Ferguson. He acknowledges it as part of the job and remains focused on proving himself through performance and results.
"I have no issue with that, that's fine, I'll take that on the chin but that's in the past now." – Barry Ferguson
"I'm sure I'm going to get judged every single time we play a game of football, but I have no problems with that." – Barry Ferguson
Reflecting on his tenure at Rangers as a player, Ferguson recalls both triumphant moments and adversities. He regards Ibrox as a special place to play football and hopes to leverage its unique environment to turn the team's fortunes around.
"It wasn't always rosy in the garden for me at Rangers. I went through some tough times as well, but it's an amazing place to play your football." – Barry Ferguson
"It's a fantastic facility in terms of the training centre, an iconic stadium with the fans coming in numbers every time that they play at Ibrox." – Barry Ferguson
During this transitional phase, Ferguson is clear about the root issues affecting Rangers' performance: inconsistency and insufficient victories in domestic competitions.
"It's just been a lack of consistency and not winning enough football games domestically." – Barry Ferguson
He aims to address these challenges head-on by fostering a resilient mindset within his players. The upcoming match against Kilmarnock will serve as a crucial test of this new approach.
"I've been in these situations but it's about standing up to that, accepting criticism and making sure you put a performance on in the next game." – Barry Ferguson
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