Barry Ferguson, one of the great midfielders ever to wear the Rangers jersey, is holding the team together with his own spirit as interim manager through this season. His appointment came on the heels of Philippe Clement’s departure in February. Ferguson faces mounting pressure as Rangers sit 15 points behind rivals Celtic in the Scottish Premiership, raising questions about his capability to steer the club back to success.
Ever since Ferguson got into the managerial seat, Rangers have not had success at all. It has led to a frustrating start for the team, who have recorded just four wins in nine matches in all competitions. Ferguson has yet to win at Ibrox. They’ve suffered a league high five straight home losses on that ground. This disappointing run has put Ferguson’s autocratic management style and effectiveness as a leader under the microscope.
Even with these obstacles, Ferguson is going on record with the hope of sticking around in his new role for many more seasons after this one. Most importantly, he is unstinting in his desire to bring success back to the team and develop a culture of winning within his squad. That said, his tenure has certainly been overshadowed by controversy. Some commentators have labeled him a “chest beater.” They think his emotional style is missing the tactical acumen that is necessary for a well-heeled club like Rangers to accomplish great things.
Kris Boyd highlighted the importance of consistent domestic performance, stating, “Rangers get themselves up for big games like Celtic and Europe, but their bread and butter is domestic football and it’s not been good enough.” This feeling strikes a chord with supporters, many of whom feel their team should be achieving more in league play.
Rangers had a hugely frustrating 0-0 draw at home to Athletic Club in the first leg of their Europa League quarter-final. Yet this match highlighted their ongoing struggle to turn potential opportunities into actual results. The players displayed amazing character to fight back from two goals behind to get a draw at home to Aberdeen. Ferguson is looking forward to tapping into their fighting spirit for the rest of the season.
As Ferguson takes stock and assesses his future at this stormy moment, speculation swirls about whether he’ll remain as manager. With a planned club overhaul coming this summer anyway and the possibility of leadership changes after a reported takeover, it appears Ferguson won’t be getting a permanent job after all. An anonymous source mentioned, “There’s going to be a huge change in the summer, and with the takeover you’d imagine they want to bring in their own people.”
The next few months will be crucial for the fate of Ferguson. He’ll want to establish himself at Rangers and help raise their standing in the table before the end of the season.
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