Rangers manager search: Barry Ferguson ‘unlikely’ to get permanent job amid developments | OneFootball

Once more, we’re caught up in the Rangers’ never-ending saga of choosing a new manager. And, yes, all eyes seem to land on Barry Ferguson, but don’t expect him to get the permanent nod anytime soon. The former Rangers captain—an unquestioned club legend—has been holding the line as caretaker manager but is “unlikely” to be given the keys to the kingdom at Ibrox. At least, that’s the word on the street lately. And with a whole host of big-name candidates also being mentioned, it feels like Ferguson’s dream job might just slip through his fingers.

The moment when Barry Fergie steps into a management role can be likened to when a fan-favorite player tries on a new jersey—there’s excitement, nostalgia, and, yes, a lot of pressure. The guy knows Rangers inside and out, so much so that if you cut him open, he’d probably bleed blue and white. But managing at this level requires more than passion for the club or an impressive on-field history—it’s no less than a cutthroat game. And right now, with the Rangers chasing silverware and desperate to bounce back from recent stumbles against Celtic and other top-tier clubs in the dogfight that is the Scottish Premiership, they need someone at the helm who can hit the ground running.

It’s said that the Rangers’ board is casting a wide net—searching globally for managers who are cut from the same cloth as Steven Gerrard, men with charisma and the force of personality to steady this mighty ship before it drifts too far off course. But I’m reliably informed that while the Gers are looking everywhere for the next boss, the first choice of many on the board is Ange Postecoglou. Celtic’s dynamic manager has, in the space of less than a season, taken his team to a level that most thought was beyond them. When he first stepped into the job, many looked at his appointment and said it would be a failure. But even if Ferguson’s intermediary period has gone well (and that’s no small achievement), he seems to be more of a calming influence than a trophy deliverer.

Is this a bit too tough on Barry Ferguson? Perhaps. But that’s the nature of the beast—football is where results count above all else. Managers are often hailed or dismissed with little time to prove their worth. Fans hold Ferguson in high regard because he represents the core values of the club—grit, loyalty, heart—and seems to channel all those elements into his role as a decision-maker. Yet when you look across the recent history of some European clubs—or even at what clubs like Aberdeen or Hearts are doing right now in Scottish football—it makes you wonder: Why not give Ferguson a shot at the big time if the board is indeed making bold, forward-thinking moves with the hiring of its new managers? That’s the question coursing through this Old Firm narrative.

Rangers are on a quest. They’re hunting for a manager who can do what Steven Gerrard did and maybe even more. Gerrard stopped the Celtic juggernaut, won the Premiership, and restored some pride to the blue half of Glasgow. His successor has to do the same and, better yet, keep winning trophies. Can someone be found who can fulfill that mission? Or will the club’s leadership, in its next great decision, falter? These are the questions that make the rounds in the old city, in pubs and on street corners. Right now, for Ferguson, patience is perhaps the best virtue. The man bleeds for the club, and maybe he’ll get a second chance to manage it. For the time being, however, no one should bet their boots on that happening.