Rangers legend Ally McCoist has shared his honest take on whether interim manager Barry Ferguson should be handed the permanent role at Ibrox beyond this summer.
Ferguson’s tenure continued to be a rollercoaster on Sunday, as Rangers once again had to come from behind to snatch a 2-2 draw away at Aberdeen. The result was made even more challenging as Ferguson’s side had to play more than half the match with 10 men after Ross McCausland’s dismissal.
While McCoist acknowledged Ferguson’s positive impact since he replaced Philippe Clement in February, he believes the club’s new owners will likely seek their own manager once the huge San Francisco 49ers-linked takeover is finalised.
Speaking on the talkSPORT breakfast show, McCoist gave his candid opinion on Ferguson’s time at the helm.
"If you are asking me for my honest opinion, I think the new owners will probably look for their own man," McCoist stated. "What Barry has done is he has shown that he's more than capable of handling it and I would suggest that he has done a good job."
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The ongoing uncertainty surrounding the club’s ownership, with the 49ers consortium poised to complete their takeover in the coming months, makes it likely that they will want to appoint a manager of their choosing.
However, McCoist believes Ferguson has done enough to remain in the conversation for the job long-term.
McCoist emphasised that Thursday’s crucial Europa League quarter-final second leg against Athletic Club could play a key role in determining Ferguson’s future.
"If they can get through this tie on Thursday because I tell you right now, he will come back into the equation," McCoist remarked, stressing how vital European success is to Ferguson’s managerial credentials.
The 47-year-old’s managerial experience had previously been limited to Clyde FC and Alloa Athletic before he accepted the interim role at Ibrox.
The upcoming Europa League clash represents what Ferguson has described as his “toughest test yet” since stepping in. Rangers, under Ferguson’s guidance, made nine changes to their lineup in Sunday’s 2-2 draw with Aberdeen.
Despite the narrow escape, Rangers are still struggling domestically, with the team sitting 15 points behind Celtic with just five games remaining.
"The home form has been bordering on diabolical to tell you the truth," he said. "They have lost four or five... Queen's Park, Motherwell, Hibs, St Mirren, all these games. It's absolutely unheard of."
The chaotic 2-2 draw at Pittodrie has been described as symbolic of Ferguson's tumultuous reign as interim manager, with dramatic moments regularly defining his time in charge.
Beyond the managerial situation, McCoist pointed to deeper structural issues at the club, particularly in the area of player recruitment.
"Celtic's finances are vastly superior to Rangers at this moment in time," he noted. "Rangers' recruitment has been diabolical, in fact, going back four, five, six years. It's not been good enough. To have any chance of improving and catching Celtic, their recruitment has to be miles better."
Despite the challenges, Ferguson has shown a willingness to make bold decisions during his interim tenure. One such move was dropping goalkeeper Jack Butland in favour of Liam Kelly, who made a crucial penalty save during the first leg against Athletic Club.
Ferguson has since reiterated that Butland "still has a huge part" to play at Rangers, underlining his man-management approach during this transitional period.
"I just think with the way the club's going, I think with new owners... He's done well enough to come into the conversation absolutely," McCoist concluded, leaving the door open for various possibilities regarding Ferguson’s future at Ibrox.
"However, I think they will go down an avenue where they want to bring in their own man or their own people. But on another train of thought, if they do that, would a new man want to keep him on in some capacity. There's another idea for you."
