Barry Ferguson is putting up a strong audition to become the 20th permanent manager of Rangers.
But with a US takeover on the horizon at Ibrox, there is still substantial uncertainty over who will take the reins at Rangers come the end of the season.
Ferguson took the praise against Fenerbahce, masterminding an impressive 3-1 away win which lay the foundation of the Europa League victory on penalty kicks at Ibrox.
The interim Rangers manager also took his charges to Celtic Park and came out fighting, the impressive 3-2 win and Rangers’ first Old Firm away day victory for five years.
Mark Guidi reckons Ferguson has earned Rangers’ trust and is good for a one year contract as the club looks to instil some stability after a hectic season.
But it’s in the other matches – the so-called bread and butter – where Ferguson is yet to convince some of his serious managerial credentials.
Ferguson sounded eerily like Clement as he discussed Rangers’ first-half collapse v Dundee, admitting he ‘never saw the situation coming’. There have also been issues in matches with Kilmarnock and Motherwell.
But with Ferguson set to get the rest of the campaign, there are three things that one ex-Rangers star reckons Barry must do to put his name firmly in the ring to take over permanently in May.
Andy Halliday outlines how Barry Ferguson can get Rangers job
Andy Halliday reckons it’s a tall order for Barry Ferguson to be handed the Rangers job full-time.
The former Ibrox midfielder, 33, has never been convinced that Ferguson might be handed a permanent role with 49ers Enterprises and Andrew Cavenagh in tow and waiting to take the reins in Glasgow.
But Halliday reckons there are three things that Ferguson can do to make a compelling case, and they certainly won’t come easy.
”I didn’t think he’d get it anyway,” Halliday explains to Open Goal.
”Again, I still think there’s plenty of games to not change my mind but obviously make his case a lot stronger.
”I think if he goes through the Bilbao game and goes to a Europa League semi-final, I think if he wins the Old Firm game at Ibrox and, what is it, eight domestic games left? If he goes and wins them I think it’s so hard not to give him the job.
”But as it stands, I would be surprised. I would be really surprised.”
Barry Ferguson’s Rangers record certainly not spotless
Barry Ferguson has taken charge of six matches since taking over at Rangers and overall it’s hard to say the interim Ibrox gaffer hasn’t made an impact.
Of those six games, Rangers have won four times on the road (Kilmarnock, Fenerbahce away, Celtic, Dundee) but have suffered two defeats at home (Motherwell, Fenerbahce).
| Result |
| Kilmarnock 2 – 4 Rangers (W) |
| Rangers 1 – 2 Motherwell (L) |
| Fenerbahce 1 – 3 Rangers (W) |
| Rangers 0 – 2 Fenerbahce (L) |
| Celtic 2 – 3 Rangers (W) |
| Dundee 3 – 4 Rangers (W) |
| FORM: WLWLWW |
| Goals scored/goals against (GD): 12/12 (0) |
Where there is cause for concern is in the fact that Rangers have conceded two or more goals in five of the matches where Ferguson has taken charge.
Rangers have also had to come from behind away from home twice, producing remarkable comebacks to win 4-2 at Kilmarnock and then 4-3 at Dundee.
Ferguson insists that he will ‘get to the bottom’ of the team’s slow starts with the club’s lack of control in matches the biggest blight on the Rangers legend’s copybook so far.
”I need to get to the bottom of (the poor starts) and I will get to the bottom of it,” said Ferguson.
“I didn’t see it coming. Again, maybe I’m maybe guilty of thinking it was all rosy in the garden.”
