Rangers arguably allowed themselves to be ruled by the heart rather than the head when replacing Philippe Clement and introducing a quartet of Ibrox icons led by former captain Barry Ferguson.
With over 400 trophies and 1,180 appearances between them, Ferguson, Neil McCann, Billy Dodds and Allan McGregor return to Rangers tasked not only with sparking a turnaround in form but also with bringing back the feel-good factor after the enthusiasm-sapping Clement era ended – somewhat typically – with a wheeze and a whimper.
Whether the legendary Ibrox quartet can have the desired effect remains to be seen.
One win, one defeat so far for Barry Ferguson. The thrill of that comeback win in Ayrshire scrubbed out by Saturday’s 2-1 reverse at the hands of Motherwell.
Yet, Ferguson remains determined to transform Rangers through sheer force of personality. Neil McCann showed himself to be a ‘great coach’ at Dundee meanwhile, according to a couple of those he worked with at Dens Park, while Dodds led Inverness to both the Championship play-offs and the Scottish Cup final between 2021 and 2023.
Clips provided by Rangers’ in-house media last week showed Billy Dodds taking a hands-on role at Auchenhowie, putting an emphasis on greater speed and intensity in and out of possession.
Colin Hendry, the legendary Scottish centre-back who spent two seasons at Ibrox between 1998 and 2000, is better placed than most to offer an insight into the characters of Ferguson, McCann and Dodds.
And while he may have departed Glasgow a year prior to Allan McGregor making his senior debut, Hendry does recall being impressed enough with the fan favourite goalkeeper to try and sign him on loan at Blackpool early in his Rangers career.
Colin Hendry explains why Blackpool did not sign Rangers legend Allan McGregor
“I was delighted that Barry is appointed, and the guys that are with him. They are friends. I played with them all apart from Allan,” says Hendry, who began his short-lived managerial career at Bloomfield Road back in 2004.
“I tried to sign Allan on loan actually, at Blackpool! We had more or less done the deal but the chairman of Blackpool at the time reneged.
“So I didn’t get Allan down at Blackpool.”
At the time, a 22-year-old McGregor was stuck in the shadows of Stefan Klos at Ibrox. Alex McLeish, from his vantage point in the Rangers dugout, admitted that he felt the baby-faced shot-stopper would benefit from a spell out on loan.
McGregor, as a result, would go on to spend the next two seasons not at Blackpool at St Johnstone in Scotland’s second tier and then in the Premiership with Dunfermline Athletic.
Two decades later, hanging up his well-worn gloves after making just shy of 500 Rangers appearances, McGregor is back at Auchenhowie to work as a goalkeeping coach in Ferguson’s staff.
Hendry backs Barry Ferguson and co to put Rangers ship back on course
“Doddsy and Neil McCann and Barry, they are good lads,” Hendry adds. “I played with them for Scotland and Rangers, and I’m delighted they have an opportunity to make things better for the football club.”
“I watched the game against Kilmarnock. And, even in that 90 minute period, you are seeing things not go well initially. Barry makes his decisions and we get a result.
“I didn’t see the game on Saturday against Motherwell and probably the last thing I though was that the same thing would happen, to go 2-0 down again. Barry has got a job on his hands.
“But I’m sure that, between all the lads, they will make sure they’ll put the club in a better place than what they’ve entered into.”
One of McGregor’s first tasks as goalkeeping coach will be to get the confidence coursing through Jack Butland’s veins again.
A growing throng of Rangers fans are clamouring for Liam Kelly to replace Butland between the sticks – starting with Fenerbahce on Thursday – after yet another high-profile blunder allowed Luke Armstrong to open the scoring against Motherwell.
Yet, a decade younger than McGregor was when he finally called it a day, Butland can learn plenty from a man who became the living embodiment of longevity.
