Leon Balogun has revealed that there was ‘no filter’ in the Rangers showdown between Barry Ferguson and the club’s underachieving squad.
Rangers have lost five home games on the bounce following the 2-0 defeat to Hibs at Ibrox, a club record which makes this technically the worst performing Rangers team in history.
Speaking ahead of the Europa League clash with Athletic Club, Barry Ferguson pointed to an honest meeting with his Rangers players this week.
Leon Balogun has suggested that such a rollicking was well overdue and has given an insight into the no-holds barred confrontation at the Rangers training ground.
Leon Balogun gives verdict on ‘no-filter’ Rangers showdown
Leon Balogun is the oldest member of the Rangers squad at 36-years-old and has fallen in love with the club over two spells in Glasgow.
Balogun always talks well and it was the veteran centre-back who faced the press ahead of the Europa League shown with Athletic Club, with the defender insisting some blunt conversations have been had at Auchenhowie this week.
”I think it was just a very straight forward and honest conversation which needed to be held,” Balogun explained.
”Because we all know that decent performances, especially domestically, haven’t been good enough.
”I mean if you lose five on the spin at Ibrox it’s not something that you should be able to accept.
”So yeah it was very open, no filter, with a very positive outcome in the end.”
Like Ferguson, Balogun insists that the meeting was about more than just talk with a tangible benefit on the team in the aftermath.
”If you see what has come off of it, I’m sure you understand I can’t give you any nitty-gritty,” said Balogun.
”If you see how the conversation went and how honest and straightforward and what we started to talk about there were definitely some things that needed to be said, they needed to be heard.
”Like I said it led to a positive outcome for the group.”
Leon Balogun reacts to Ibrox exodus v Hibs
Barry Ferguson claims that it hurt to see Rangers supporters stream out of Ibrox in their numbers as the club went 2-0 down to Hibs.
It’s the job of the Rangers team to inspire the fans and recent performances have led to a malaise in the Ibrox following.
Balogun insists it’s not his place to judge how fans want to support the club, but reckons the ‘outstanding’ Rangers fanbase is well within its rights vote with their feet.
”It’s a tough one. It’s not my right to tell people how to support us,” Balogun explains.
“I think they’ve been outstanding, they are outstanding the majority of the time.
”If you look at our season you can probably show some empathy. Would I like to see something different and most of them to stay to the final whistle? Yes. Can I understand their frustration and their disappointment? Definitely.
”So it’s hard for me. I wouldn’t judge on it but obviously it’s tough because they can give you so much and at the same time everybody also understands what it means to the fans in that moment when they decide to take that option. So it’s on us to turn things around.”
