A “no-nonsense” manager now has a “50-50” chance of becoming Rangers’ next permanent manager this summer, according to a fresh claim from Derek Ferguson.
Updates on Rangers manager search
The Gers continue to look at their managerial options heading into the summer, with Barry Ferguson in interim charge until the end of the season.
The former Rangers captain has done a solid job in charge at Ibrox, but he has now been knocked out of the Europa League and there is little else to play for in the coming weeks, with questions fairly posed over his experience at the highest level.
Meanwhile, legendary manager Jose Mourinho is thought to be keen on the idea of taking charge of the Gers, but only if he is backed by 49ers Enterprises in the transfer market. He hasn’t yet been approached, though.
For now, it looks like Steven Gerrard is the front-runner to come in, having guided Rangers to the Scottish Premiership title back in 2020/21, but it’s fair to say that no concrete decisions have been made by those high up at Ibrox yet.
Ferguson has "50-50" chance of being permanent boss
Speaking to Ibrox News, 57 year-old Derek Ferguson claimed that his younger brother has a “50-50” chance of being given the Rangers job on a permanent basis.
“The club have probably been waiting to see how this European campaign pans out really, but they have to be taking him into consideration. He’s come in and been no-nonsense, plus he’s spoken really well. He’s brought in two other guys, [Billy] Dodds and [Neill] McCann, who know the Scottish game inside out, so you can look at him and his staff and say together it ticks a lot of boxes.
“For Barry, it’s about managing the players, which I think he’s done. The fans have enjoyed seeing his passion and that gives the players energy. “They have to take him seriously, but at the end of the day, it’s probably 50-50.”
Opinion may be split over whether Ferguson should be given the Rangers job on a full-time basis or not, with some supporters perhaps allowing their hearts to rule their heads.
The 47-year-old deserves big credit for adding more of a togetherness at the club after replacing Philippe Clement, especially guiding the Gers past Mourinho’s Fenerbahce after a penalty shootout triumph in the last 16 of the Europa League, but he is still an unproven manager overall.
For that reason, Rangers would be wise to look at a boss who has won major trophies in his career, with Mourinho the obvious standout in that respect, winning two Champions Leagues and several league titles.
While Gerrard has had ups and downs in his managerial career, he is also a more polished option than Ferguson, and could feel that he has unfinished business at Ibrox.
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Ferguson is understandably a popular figure among the Gers fanbase, but the club need to make a sensible long-term appointment, bringing in someone who can narrow the gap on Celtic and lead the team forward for years to come.