Qudus SalihuFormer Rangers captain Barry Ferguson has for the first time offered a genuinely emotional statement regarding his rejection for the permanent manager’s job, openly admitting his disappointment after the club opted for a foreign manager instead.
Ferguson, who took interim charge following a managerial departure last season, made no secret of his desire to lead the club he captained for years. Despite achieving some decent results in his temporary stint, the Ibrox hierarchy ultimately decided against giving the job to the club legend, choosing to look abroad for a new coach.
”I was disappointed for a week”
Speaking candidly on the decision, Ferguson revealed the personal sting of being overlooked.
”I had an interview and I never got the job at the end of the season,” Ferguson confirmed. He continued, showing a rare vulnerability, “I was disappointed for a week after not getting the job, but that’s in the past, you need to move forward.”
While Ferguson maintains he is now “at peace with the whole situation” and fully committed to his ambassadorial and media roles, his admission highlights the profound connection he still feels to the manager’s hot seat.
The Foreign Manager Factor
His comments also hinted at a long-running frustration felt by many Scottish coaches who believe their domestic experience is often undervalued. Following the appointment of the foreign manager, Ferguson once made a telling observation: “I think it’s fine because I’m probably Scottish, and so is my staff. If it was somebody from a different country, I think they would have gotten more respect.”
This latest emotional, yet balanced, statement underscores the pain of being rejected by the club that is “everything” to him, despite his confidence in his own abilities to steady the ship. Ultimately, while he remains fully behind the new manager, Ferguson’s dream of permanently managing Rangers remains on hold.
Qudus Salihu
Rabiu Aminu
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