Latest news with #JackButland
Scotsman
15-05-2025
- Sport
- Scotsman
Rangers boss on why 'first class' Jack Butland can still be number one as Ferguson reveals Ibrox 'intention'
Rangers goalkeeper Jack Butland returned to the starting XI in the 3-1 win over Dundee United. Sign up to our Football newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Rangers interim head coach Barry Ferguson says 'brilliant' Jack Butland has proven he can still be the club's number one goalkeeper next season as takeover talk continues to surround the club. The 32-year-old stopper made his return to the Rangers starting XI in the 3-1 Scottish Premiership win over Dundee United at Ibrox on Wednesday, and made a number of smart stops on his first start since April 5. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad With futures uncertain amid the impending takeover from the Andrew Cavenagh-led consortium involving 49ers Enterprises, head coach Ferguson believes that both Rangers goalkeepers, Butland and Liam Kelly, have shown they have what it takes to be the club's goalkeeper next season despite the uncertainly that surrounds the entire dressing room. 'It was always my intention to bring Jack back in at some stage,' said Ferguson. 'Firstly, Liam Kelly has been excellent. Top class. But over the last two or three weeks, he's had a niggle in his back, which he's been carrying. But I was going to bring, as I said, Jack back in. I decided to bring him back in tonight. Look, it's been a tough period for Jack, but I've been honest with him. Rangers goalkeeper Liam Kelly (R) and Jack Butland at full time after the 0-0 draw with Athletic Bilbao. (Photo by Alan Harvey / SNS Group) | SNS Group 'I think if you ask him himself, he'll tell you that. But you've seen his qualities tonight, and I was delighted for him. So that's the problem next season. Now Rangers have two quality number ones. One thing I've always said about Jack is, when I made the decision, his attitude has been first class. So that sums him up as a man, first and foremost. Because it's not easy when, as a manager, you sit an experienced player down and tell him that he's obviously not going to be playing. 'I looked him in his eyes and he was disappointed. But his reaction has been brilliant in training. He's given it everything. Because he knows he's up against Liam, who, since he's come in, has been excellent as well. And you've seen when I brought him in against Bilbao, who was the first man over him? Jack Butland. So, delighted for Jack. That was a Jack that I love. I just thought it was the right thing to do. Delighted with his performance.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Reflected on his three month stint at interim head coach, the ex-Rangers captain admitted he's enjoyed the experience, though he jokingly admitted it had aged him, saying 'My biggest takeaway is that I've got a few more wrinkles. I've got a few more grey hairs. That's for sure. But listen, I've loved every minute of it.
The Herald Scotland
14-05-2025
- Sport
- The Herald Scotland
Barry Ferguson names Rangers XI to face Dundee Utd
Jack Butland has been reinstated to the starting XI after a period on the bench following a series of high-profile errors. Liam Kelly had deputised for Butland since the Englishman was dropped after a 2-0 loss to Hibernian last month. Hamza Igamane also comes in for Rangers with Nedim Bajrami dropping to the bench. Read more: RANGERS XI: Butland, Tavernier, Souttar, Balogun, Jefte, Barron, Diomande, Raskin, Cerny, Igamane, Dessers. SUBS: Kelly, Propper, Cortes, Lawrence, Bajrami, Kasanwirjo, Rice, Curtis, Danilo.
The National
14-05-2025
- Sport
- The National
Barry Ferguson names Rangers XI to face Dundee Utd
The Ibrox interim boss has made two changes from the Ibrox triumph over Aberdeen at the weekend. Jack Butland has been reinstated to the starting XI after a period on the bench following a series of high-profile errors. Liam Kelly had deputised for Butland since the Englishman was dropped after a 2-0 loss to Hibernian last month. Hamza Igamane also comes in for Rangers with Nedim Bajrami dropping to the bench. Read more: RANGERS XI: Butland, Tavernier, Souttar, Balogun, Jefte, Barron, Diomande, Raskin, Cerny, Igamane, Dessers. SUBS: Kelly, Propper, Cortes, Lawrence, Bajrami, Kasanwirjo, Rice, Curtis, Danilo.
Scottish Sun
09-05-2025
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
The TWELVE clubs Rangers could face in Champions League qualifying second round plus nightmare opponents lying in wait
They face three arduous rounds of qualifying to reach the £40m league phase for the first time - and some old foes could await DIRTY DOZEN The TWELVE clubs Rangers could face in Champions League qualifying second round plus nightmare opponents lying in wait RANGERS' Champions League qualifying fate is sealed - or at least they now know what round they'll be entering. Athletic Bilbao's Europa League demise against Man Utd last night confirms that the Ibrox men will enter at the second qualifying round stage, and face three arduous rounds of qualifying to reach the moneyspinning £40million league phase for the first time. Advertisement 6 Jack Butland and Rangers stars Credit: Getty 6 Takeover chiefs Andrew Cavenagh and Gretar Steinsson Credit: Willie Vass It also means that the incoming Andrew Cavenagh and 49ers Enterprises regime at the club must get up and running early. That 's because the first leg has been scheduled for July 22/23, with the return fixture taking place the following week on either July 29 or July 30 - where a third round entry would have afforded them another fortnight of prep before a big kick off on August 5/6. They're one of SIX teams who will enter the competition at this second round non-champions path stage - with the identities of three of them known already. And we also know the Rangers WILL be seeded in this round of the competition at least, with a decent chance of being seeded all the way through. Advertisement But who exactly could they face? Well, SunSport has had a look around Europe ahead of a frantic final few weeks so you don't have to. And here are the answers. It's worth noting that there's some tight title races out there, and indeed some massive title showdowns taking place this weekend. But here's the TWELVE teams who are still theoretically at least potential opponents at this stage. Advertisement SK Brann The Gers already know they have a one in three chance of facing the Bergen-based side. And they are no mugs, currently topping the Norwegian top flight for the new season, after last season's second placed finish. 6 Fredrik Knudsen of Brann against St Mirren Credit: Kenny Ramsay Got past St Mirren in Conference League qualifying last year after a 1-1 draw in the first leg in Paisley, and squad is almost entirely Scandinavian. Panathinaikos The Greek runners up are the only other team who have already definitely booked their spot in this second qualifying round. Advertisement There's a chance that they and Gers will both be seeded and consequently kept APART at this stage but it's by no means a guarantee. 6 Panathinaikos in action against Chelsea in the Conference League Credit: Reuters And a trip to the white hot atmosphere of Athens might not be ideal for a new Rangers manager to cut their teeth in, with the Greeks skippered by Fotis Ioannidis, one of the men who destroyed Scotland in the Nations League playoffs recently. Servette (or Young Boys or Lugano or Luzern or Lausanne) With Basel's superior goal difference meaning they're champions in all but name, it's currently Servette who are on track to finish second and potentially find themselves in the Ibrox side's path. Advertisement These two sides met in Champions League qualifying action as recently as the season before last - with Rangers edging through 3-2 on aggregate courtesy of a James Tavernier goal in the second leg in Geneva. If it is Servette who make it they'll likely be unseeded and therefore in Rangers' path, but Young Boys and Luzern are particularly close on their heels and could yet overtake them. 6 Cyriel Dessers and Steve Rouiller as Gers did battle with Servette Credit: Willie Vass Former Gers star Cedric Itten's Young Boys - who went down narrowly at Celtic Park in the Champions League this season - will still fancy their chances of finishing second and making it into the second round of qualifying. Advertisement Their 34.5 coefficient would ensure them of seeding at this round and keep them apart from Gers - UNLESS Red Bull Salzburg finish second in Austria. On the other hand, with only five points separating five teams in the fiendish Swiss playoff system even Lugano, Luzern or Lausanne could jump into second in the league with four games to play. All would be likely unseeded and potential second round opponents for Rangers should they finish second when it is all said and done. (Sparta Prague or Banik Ostrava) Slavia Prague are champs again in Czechia - that means they're set to benefit from the SPFL's old automatic spot and go straight into the new Champions League phase. Advertisement Behind them there's a bit of a bunfight with three games remaining - but Viktoria Plzen are currently in the box seat. But Plzen's heroics in Europe in recent seasons and bumper 39.25 coefficient means they will be seeded too and hence kept apart from Rangers at this stage. The same COULD potentially apply if Gers' old rivals Sparta Prague (29) overtake Plzen to finish second but it wouldn't if Banik Ostrava crash the party. They would be unseeded and potentially in the Gers' path. Advertisement Austria Vienna (or Sturm Graz or Wolfsberger) The biggest kicker of all comes in Austria, where there's now a stunning FOUR-WAY battle for the title. Max Johnston's Sturm Graz currently lead the way from Austria Vienna, then Wolfsberger and Red Bull Salzburg - with the four teams separated by just four points and each with three games to play. 6 Max Johnston could end up facing Celtic or Rangers in qualifying Credit: Getty It's dramatic stuff and RB Salzburg are the only team the Gers COULDN'T face in the second round as they would both be seeded. Advertisement Johnston's Graz could thus still theoretically face Rangers (or even Celtic), while Austria Vienna or Wolfsberger are also potential second round foes for the Gers. And then what happens... Well, put simply things don't get any easier any time soon - even though the Gers WILL still be seeded in the third qualifying round. That's protection they could badly need with the second placed team in Belgium (almost certainly an excellent Club Brugge side), and the second team in Portugal (Benfica and Sporting Libson are currently dead level on points) entering at this stage. So too does the fourth placed team in France (currently Nice) and the third placed team in Netherlands (currently Feyenoord) entering at this stage. Advertisement And the really bad news for the Ibrox men comes in the playoff round, if they're still standing - where there's no guarantee that they will still be seeded. Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
BBC News
08-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Butland would have offers plus Jack on manager hunt
Goalkeeper Jack Butland would have plenty suitors should he opt to leave Rangers in the summer, says former Ibrox defender Richard Foster. (Daily Record), externalThe new Rangers manager must grasp the pressure, demands and expectations of being in charge of the club, says former midfielder Ryan Jack. (Daily Record), externalRead Thursday's Scottish gossip
