Steven Naismith has spoken about the changes Barry Ferguson will face after being appointed Rangers’ interim manager.
Philippe Clement was sacked of his duties as Gers manager at the end of last week after a 2-0 loss to St Mirren in the Scottish Premiership.
Saturday’s result was the second time the Gers had been beaten by the Saints this season, and it clearly tipped the odds against Clement.
While Ferguson’s appointment was rapid, and fans will appreciate his familiarity with the club, he has never coached a squad the size of Rangers.
Naismith, a former teammate of Ferguson’s shared his stance on Patrick Stewart’s choice to bring in the Ibrox legend until the end of the term.
Naismith believes that ‘massive’ change is afoot at Rangers
Since Clement lost 1-0 to Queen’s Park and got Rangers knocked out of the Scottish Cup, he’d been on thin ice with his Europa League run the only thing keeping him in a job.
In the end, however, that wasn’t enough and as many fans had been calling for since their defeat to St Mirren earlier in the season, it was time for change.
Ferguson may not have extensive management experience, but his familiarity with the club and relationships with some of the players will undoubtedly aid him as he attempts to carve a new route for the Ibrox club.
Speaking on Sky Sports News via X (24 February), Naismith discussed how he believes Gers fans will react to his appointment.
“Barry Ferguson is the best player that has come through the Rangers academy, he’s been one of the best players to play for Rangers,” he told me.
“He’s managed previously, but it was at League One level and in Scottish part-time football, so it’s a big shift.
“I believe the fans will be pleased that there will be change; there isn’t much else to play for, and their primary goal will now be Europe.
“It’s going to be a very tough task against Fenerbahce but it’s about restoring pride and having performances that teams are lucky to get a point.”
“He’s managed previously, but it was at League One level and in Scottish part-time football, so it’s a big shift.
“I believe the fans will be pleased that there will be change; there isn’t much else to play for, and their primary goal will now be Europe.
“It’s going to be a very tough task against Fenerbahce but it’s about restoring pride and having performances that teams are lucky to get a point.”
Stewart needs this gamble to pay off at Ibrox.
Since his arrival at Ibrox in December, Stewart has had a difficult time.
The Gers had little to no money to spend in the January transfer season despite the fact that they needed several reinforcements and had just lost the Scottish League Cup final to Celtic on penalties.
While Ferguson’s hiring, along with other Rangers icons such as Billy Dodds and Neil McCann, is a risky decision, the Gers’ CEO must navigate it.
There will certainly be few expectations for the rest of the season, but if Ferguson and his team can instill confidence in their group for next season, they will have done a good job.
Because, at the end of the day, all supporters want is to be able to compete for the title, which hasn’t been possible over the past few months.
