Rangers are counting on 49ers Enterprises to make the right decision regarding the club’s next manager once their takeover is finalized.
Interim boss Barry Ferguson didn’t strengthen his case for a permanent appointment after a 2-0 defeat to Hibernian on Saturday. Since replacing Philippe Clement, Ferguson is still chasing his first win at Ibrox.
Despite that, he has earned some support from the fanbase after leading Rangers to the Europa League quarter-finals and securing a key win over Celtic on March 16.
Keith Jackson backs Ferguson for full-time role
Although questions remain about whether Ferguson is the right long-term option, journalist Keith Jackson believes the former Gers captain has what it takes to succeed in the role.
Writing in the Daily Record [7 April], Jackson stated:
“But – and you’ll just have to trust me on this one – they have exactly the right man for the job in Barry Ferguson even if they can’t quite see it for themselves at this low point in the caretaker manager’s short stint at the helm.
“And that’s precisely why it might be a mistake for Rangers – and their incoming new American owners – to look elsewhere when it comes to deciding who ought to be leading from the front when next season begins.
“This is not time for another rebuild or even a star-spangled revolution. It’s gone too far for that.
“Yes, Ferguson may lack managerial experience, but what he knows better than almost anyone else are the standards required to make this club competitive and capable of offering up a credible challenge to Celtic’s domestic dominance.
“And that wealth of priceless knowledge should not be ignored or undervalued by Andrew Cavenagh when it comes to throwing out the bathwater in the summer.”
Europa League key to Ferguson’s future
Ferguson’s loss to Hibs was a setback in his bid to become the next full-time Rangers manager, especially as Celtic now sit 13 points clear in the league. But European success may carry more weight in determining his future.
Rangers take on Athletic Bilbao in the first leg of their Europa League quarter-final on Thursday — the last remaining trophy they can realistically win this season.
If Ferguson can mastermind a win over the La Liga side, who currently occupy fourth in the Spanish top flight, and guide Rangers into the semi-finals, it could strengthen his case significantly and convince the 49ers to give him the role on a permanent basis.
Having already guided Rangers to a surprise run to the Europa League final in 2022, the Ibrox legend now has an opportunity to go one step further and cement his place in club history.
