Barry Ferguson says that Rangers need to make a call on who is going to lead the team next season sooner rather than later, as he stressed the thought of being the man charged with implementing the wholesale changes required this summer ‘doesn’t scare him one bit’.
Interim Ibrox manager Ferguson led Rangers to a draw against Celtic in the final Old Firm derby of the season, but immediately set his sights on what has to happen once this forgettable campaign from a Rangers perspective has drawn to a close.
The close season will be a time of upheaval at the club with the takeover by 49ers Enterprises set to be concluded and prevailing wisdom suggesting that major surgery will be required on the team.
Ferguson is adamant that he can be the man to spearhead a Rangers revolution, but if he is going to be made manager on a permanent basis, he says he needs to know soon.
“We know there are changes [coming],” Ferguson said.
“The changes are starting to happen. And that's a real positive in my eyes.
“Kevin (Thelwell) has come in as sporting director. I don't know when he starts, maybe the middle of June or the start of July. But we need to get started because it's a couple of weeks before the end of the season.
“Before you know it, you're in the qualification games for the Champions League. And then the season is upon you.
“There's a lot of work to be done. And the club need to make that decision about who's going to be leading the team pretty soon.
“Of course [I think I have a chance of getting the job]. But that's up to people above to decide.
“Look, since I've come in here, there's been a few bumps. But that does not scare me one single bit. I've been through the doors now, I know what's needed in terms of change.
“So, we just need to wait and see. But as I said to you, it has to be a decision made quickly now because we're coming to the end of the season. You need to obviously start deciding what way you want to go heading into next season. Because this season has been dry, in terms of trophies.
“This club needs to get back to challenging and winning trophies again.
“I keep repeating myself. I've told everybody. Everybody's got an opinion. I don't care about people's opinions. I know I can do the job. I know I've got a real good staff behind me.
“I've been asked this question two or three weeks in a row. I think it's clear. It doesn't scare me one single bit. I know there's a hell of a lot of work to be done. But I think everybody knows that. And that's a challenge that I would meet head on.
“And I know I would change it.”
Ferguson was pleased by the application shown by his team in the draw with Celtic, and was understanding of the angry reaction shown by Vaclav Cerny when he was substituted in the second half, with the winger repeatedly thumping the side of the Rangers dugout.
That would have been rooted in frustration at his own performance, Ferguson feels, and he expects a more positive reaction from Cerny in training next week.
“I'm the manager, I've got to make decisions,” he said.
“And if I feel I need to make changes, I'll make changes.
“I have no issue with people being disappointed. I would rather they're like that and walk off with a smile on their face. He'll need to come in next weekend and train really hard to try and get back into the starting eleven next Sunday.
“In terms of Vaclav, he knows what I think, I think he's a high-quality player. He's a match winner. He's a game changer. Sometimes you've got to make decisions if you don't think it's going well.
“But listen, he's got a good attitude. He'll be disappointed. He'll be frustrated. Again, I don't have any issue with that. He'll be one of the first ones in on Tuesday morning. He'll be on that training pitch, and he'll be giving his all.”
Ferguson felt Rangers should have had a second half penalty when Ianis Hagi went down under the challenge of Celtic captain Callum McGregor, while he was also puzzled to have picked up a booking from referee Nick Walsh after protesting against a foul that was awarded to the visitors, though he was choosing his words carefully in his post-match debrief.
“I'm not even going to say anything on it,” he said.
“[The booking]'s one of those ones where it's not a foul. The referee decides to give me a yellow card. I just need to accept it.
“But coming back to the penalty, if that's in the middle of the pitch, it's a foul. But it was in the box, and it wasn't given as a foul.
“I just need to move on quickly because I don't want to start saying things that's going to get me in trouble.”
