Barry Ferguson probably thought that the chances of him ever taking charge of Rangers disappeared when he told Pedro Caixinha that he wanted his job.
Now, as the Rangers manager, the Hall of Fame legend finally has the chance to do things his way and sculpt the team that he loves in his own image.
It might only be for the short term, as confirmed by Patrick Stewart, however, Ferguson and his new coaching staff, need to get to work quickly.
Speaking to Rangers TV, Ferguson sat down and was asked for his initial thoughts sitting in the Ibrox hotseat.
Barry Ferguson on how it feels to be Rangers manager
“Proud, excited, if I’m being honest, it came out the blue. So, it’s been a whirlwind 24 hours. Just happy to get it done, get my staff together and get into the training ground and get going.”
On the last 24 hours
“A severe lack of sleep! Because, as I mentioned, I had to get a backroom staff together and, I’ve got to be respectful because they were in jobs elsewhere so we had to get that sorted.
“Thankfully, the guys worked hard at that and so did the chief executive and the chairman, thankfully, we got it done quicker than we thought which meant we were able to get in quicker than expected.
“We can’t wait to get started and look forward to the next game which is Wednesday against Kilmarnock.”
On the opportunity to return to Rangers
“Yeah, if I’m being honest, I didn’t think it would ever come. I’ve been happy with what I’ve been doing the last 2-3 years after coming out of coaching. I’ve been back at the club as an ambassador and been enjoying that role.
“When I got asked, it was a job I couldn’t turn down, albeit it’s only for three months, I know that.
“It’s my job to go and get a kick out of this group of players because when I watch them, I think there’s really good players there, so, it’s our job as staff and mine as a manager to go and get the best that I think I can out of them.”
On speaking to anyone in football before taking the job
“Yeah, a couple of people who I respect in the game, they were a bit surprised as well but I always lean on these guys because I trust them, I trust their judgement and they knew when I spoke to them, they knew how excited I was, sorry, and desperate to get started and I’m looking forward, as I said, just getting out on the training pitch and spending a bit of time with the players.”
On learning from previous managers he worked under
“I’m my own man, but listen, as you mentioned, I played under some fantastic managers that obviously I learned so much off and obviously I’m going to take bits but I’m my own guy, I’ve got a certain way of playing, you’ll see that straight away and that’s where we’ve got to get to work on the training ground.
“We’ve only got a day’s preparation before the Kilmarnock game which is not ideal but it is what it is, I’m not complaining, listen, I’m in a fantastic position and we’re just going to give it a roll.
“You’ll see certain differences come Wednesday night.”
What is Ferguson’s assessment of the team?
“Inconsistent, if I’m being honest with you, in terms of, for instance Europe, I think some of the performances have been top class.
“Domestically, that’s your bread and butter, that’s where you’ve got to win most weeks but you’re always going to have a bump in the road but I think there’s been too many bumps in the road.
“So, it’s our job, and my job as a manager and the staff’s job to try and get a level of consistency into the squad because, as I said, there’s definitely quality players and they look a good group, they just look a bit flat at this moment in time.
“Again, that’s our job as a staff to try and get that confidence back up.”
What message will Ferguson give the players?
“Enjoy it, you’re playing with Glasgow Rangers, it’s a privelege. You walk through this training centre, I’ve not been here for a while and I see the changes.
“Enjoy yourself, they’re going to enjoy training, training will be tough, there’s no doubt, but it will be enjoyable as well. It’ll be at a certain standard which I would expect.
“So, yep, it’s all about enjoying your football and it gets serious at 90 minutes, it’s all about winning at Rangers, that’s how I was brought up and that’s the way I want my players to be.
“You have to win every game, the demands and expectations put on you here. When people come to watch you, they expect you to win games and I don’t think we’ve won enough this year.”
On his coaching staff
“Well, obviously, I’m going to be the manager, I’ve brought in Billy Dodds and Neil McCann who have had previous experience as managers, I played with them, I know their characters that they are and I know how good they are on the training pitch in terms of organisational skills, they put on really good sessions and, Allan McGregor, obviously everyone knows what he done for the clubs so, I’m excited with my staff.
“When I asked them, I was unsure if I could get them but they were great, their first point was that they were desperate to come and work for me and that’s what you want.
“So, just delighted to get it all done and, I’m excited to start working with these guys and we’re excited to get to work with the players.”
On working with Issame Charai
“I’m looking forward to it, I’ve met him and we’ve spent some time together just me and Issame talking about, just players, and obviously the way that I want to take the team forwards so he’ll just need to get used to obviously, a new coaching team coming in, but listen, he’s eager, that’s what I want, he’s got a good work ethic about him, that’s important to me, so yeah, looking forward to bringing him into the staff.
Ferguson’s message to Rangers fans
“My message would be, you’re going to see a team that’s going to have a certain style of play, attack minded, and we’re going to try and win every single game, we’re going to be aggressive, which was a part of my game as well and I don’t mean that by going in and tackling people or going over the top on people.
“I mean, aggressive in the press, we just need to make sure that we get it right, as I said, but when I look at the squad, I do believe there is a team capable of winning games week in, week out, so, I’m just excited to get started, you can see I’m getting a bit sweaty here and read to go.
“We’ll just, listen, we’ll take it game, by game.
“Every game we enter, we enter to win.”
