Barry Ferguson breaks Rangers exit silence at last as he reveals what he'd do differently and what comes next
Barry Ferguson has spoken for the first time since leaving Rangers – and says he wouldn't change a thing about his time in the dugout.
The former Ibrox captain answered the call to take the reins as interim head coach after Philippe Clement's sacking in February and brought an established coaching team of Neil McCann, Billy Dodds, and Allan McGregor with him.
It was Ferguson 's first venture into the dugout since leaving Alloa in 2022 and it's fair to say it was a rocky ride.
There were some highs, including a 3-2 victory away to Celtic and a Europa League triumph over Jose Mourinho's Fenerbahce, but he struggled to deliver consistency and was eventually relieved of the interim position after a 2-2 draw with Hibs brought the curtain down on the Premiership season.
Ferguson was initially in the frame for the permanent post but the club decided to pursue other options, the new San Francisco 49ers -backed owners eventually landing on Russell Martin as the man for the job.
And Ferguson, speaking publicly for the first time since his exit on the Go Radio Football Show, said: "I wouldn't change a thing about it.
"I never thought it would ever happen and when you get that phone call, it's a case of 'when can I start?'
"You've got to think of who is working beside you and who you want beside you and that had to happen very quick.
"I could have picked a number of people but I wanted to go with people who would really challenge me as a staff. I like getting challenged.
"Certainly the staff that I picked gave me a few challenges. There were some feisty moments when we had to make some decisions.
"I had two sore ones, at home to Motherwell and Hibs. The Motherwell game, we should have beaten them; the Hibs game we were nowhere near good enough.
"But then I changed the personnel and shape and we got a victory in the next game.
"That's part and parcel. Nothing is ever perfect and you're never going to win every single game, as much as you want to. But it's how you react when something goes against you that's the most important thing."
As for what's next, Ferguson isn;t completely ruling out a return to the dugout and has knocked back offers.
But life will return to what is was before for now, which includes resuming his Record Sport duties.
"Listen, I had a brilliant three months but that's finished with," he said. "My life is back to being nice and quiet again, which I'm quite happy with.
"Look, I'd never rule out going back into management. I've had a few offers from Scotland, down south and abroad but I just felt they weren't right. I'll take a bit of time out and get back to doing what I was doing previously.
"Nobody will be able to take those three months away from me. I loved every single minute of it, albeit there were some disappointing times.
"The decision is mine and I know what I want. What I want is what I'm doing just now; back at Rangers in my role that I had previously, doing a bit on here and I'll do my Daily Record column.
I"ll play a bit of golf and a bit of fives, try to enjoy and get back supporting my team, hopefully seeing Rangers being successful under Russell Martin.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BBC News
10 minutes ago
- BBC News
'Total shambles' - fan optimism lacking as new season dawns
We asked for your views on how Dundee are shaping up for the new Premiership season, which gets under way against Hibs on what some of you said: George: Need at least six players plus a good midfield general to replace the lost players. Need to concentrate for 90 minutes and not have any lapses. A few players are looking good but we certainly need some good To win the odd derby and to finish 10th I'm sad to say. That's the best we can wish for with Steven Pressley at the Not very confident for the season ahead, do not think Pressley is the right man for the job. Some of the players recruited are poor, very poor. As a fan for over 50 years my motivation to head to home and away games is waning badly. John Nelms is killing our Too early to give an opinion, but I feel more than a little pessimistic about the season. Losing 14 players from last season and we still need another five or six for this seasone. Looks like we're playing catch-up before a ball is kicked. Going to be a long We are a total shambles and there is no sign of any ambition at the club. The squad is short in terms of numbers and lacking quality all over the park. Dundee do not have a playmaker. The facilities at Dens are dire and it is becoming increasingly clear that the much-talked-about new stadium will not materialise. We will be in the Championship next season and could be relegated by First few games may be damage limitation, but Pressley knows what is needed. Dundee may be a tighter unit than a lot of folk believe. Could be a surprise I have supported the Dark Blues for nearly 50 years. I've long passed from childish optimism to pragmatic middle age, but never have I felt the fans so fearful and the squad so ill-equipped and under-prepared for a new season. No wins in the first eight games and then roll the managerial dice again.
BBC News
10 minutes ago
- BBC News
Why are United fans 'very worried' before Premiership start?
We asked for your views on how Dundee United are shaping up for the new Premiership season, which gets under way against Falkirk on what some of you said: Steven: We need more quality in the final third. The defence looks solid and big Bert Esselink will be the pick of the bunch with the new signings, he's captain material. We have very little creativity in the the middle of the park. I like Zac Sapsford but he's not a number nine. Keep everyone fit and we are okay, but I worry if any of our big players get injured. Midfielder and another striker in the door and I'm happy. Top of the list is Ronan Hale, he'd be a terrific signing for us. Finally, sorry to judge so early but Ivan Dolcek is Very worried going on the performances so far. A real lack of pace and creativity which we lacked last season as well, only this time we don't have Sam Dalby. Long season ahead with a bottom-six finish nailed on already in my Hard to judge so early in the season against poor quality opposition, but the defence and goalkeeper seem to be well organised and calm. Not sure Panutche Camara or Isaac Pappoe have what's required. Dolcek has not impressed. Hardly seen Max Watters so will reserve judgement. Sapsford appears to work hard and took his goal well in the first leg or the Conference League. Owen Stirton, in his brief appearances seems to be the best striking option. A team that is going to struggle for goals this season which might translate into struggles for Such a weak pre-season, I'm finding it difficult in seeing anything but struggles. Lack of goals and a bench light on quality and game-changers will see us fighting Very tough start to the season for United. Two very poor performances against UNA Strassen albeit two wins. I expect a really difficult game against a well-organised Falkirk team on Sunday. Away to Rapid Vienna on Thursday night gives me the fear. AZ Alkmaar all over again It's going to be a struggle to make top six this season as we look a bit lightweight from middle to front. Long season ahead for us!
Daily Record
39 minutes ago
- Daily Record
Russell Martin will be Celtic nemesis or his own worst enemy but either way he runs towards danger
Hugh Keevins likes the new Ibrox boss' style and warns he can pile the pressure on the Hoops before the pair even meet Russell Martin will either turn out to be Celtic 's nemesis or his own worst enemy because of his managerial philosophy. But before the verdict is delivered, I have to say I like his style. Don't run away from potential danger. Run towards it and shape your own destiny. Foolhardy or foolproof? Time will tell. It helps in Europe, of course, when you meet a Greek team who couldn't have kicked doors at Halloween whenever they got a sight of goal. But that's not Russell's problem. And I suspect his team will make light work, home and away, of Viktoria Plzen as well when they face the Czechs in the next Champions League qualifying round. The last Czech to cause Rangers serious discomfort was Lubo Moravcik in a Celtic jersey – and he was a one-off. I said here before Gers met Panathinaikos that I could never recall an Ibrox manager being handed a match of such magnitude before he had even dealt with a domestic game in his new role, as Martin had, to survive. Now, having lived with that burden, Russell has the chance to put an inordinate level of pressure on Celtic, inadvertently and intentionally, before the month is out. If one half of Glasgow makes the Champions League group stage and the other one doesn't, it is the cue for regret and recriminations. If the one who goes through in Europe then beats the one who dropped down to a lesser competition in the first Old Firm derby of the season then all leave is cancelled in a city as claustrophobic as Glasgow. That's Martin's target to hit or his trauma to deal with if Celtic beat whoever comes out of the hat for them on Monday in the Champions League draw and they are the side to win at Ibrox on August 31. It was never like this in Southampton, that's for sure. You can get all the news you need on our dedicated Rangers and Celtic pages, and sign up to our newsletters to make sure you never miss a beat throughout the season. We're also WhatsApp where we bring all the latest breaking news and transfer gossip directly to you phone. Join our Rangers community here and our Celtic community here. Tune in to Hotline Live every Sunday to Thursday and have your say on the biggest issues in Scottish football and listen to Record Sport's newest podcast, Game On, every Friday for your sporting fix, all in bitesize chunks.
