Kris Boyd shares change he’s noticed at Auchenhowie ahead of Celtic v Rangers
Barry Ferguson has had a brilliant impact since he was appointed as interim manager at Rangers – and that is also now clear to see off the pitch.
The Gers legend has guided the Glasgow outfit into the Europa League quarter-finals after a thrilling victory over Fenerbahce (13 March).
Domestically, he will hope to secure a win over Celtic, something which Philippe Clement only managed in one of seven encounters with Brendan Rodgers’ side.
Boyd shares Rangers change under Ferguson
Fellow Rangers legend Boyd has shared the difference that he has noticed between Clement and Ferguson at Auchenhowie.
Speaking on Sky Sports News (15 March, 12:58 pm), he said: “I think he has got a reaction out of the players in terms of that feelgood factor of going into the building.
“You could tell at the training centre yesterday, there was far better vibe than what it has been.”
Ferguson can secure permanent Rangers job
Depending on how his side end the campaign, Ferguson could find himself in the running to be the permanent successor to Clement.
If he can guide the Gers to an unlikely Europa League trophy, surely the 49ers could not possibly look anywhere else once their takeover is completed in the summer.
It is imperative that the American consortium get the decision right, to close the gap to Celtic, and appointing a manager who has won a trophy already would be a no-brainer.
| Stats (Scottish Premiership) | Gerrard | McInnes | Ferguson |
| Games managed | 107 | 468 | 2 |
| Wins | 76 | 209 | 1 |
| Draws | 21 | 109 | 0 |
| Losses | 10 | 150 | 1 |
| Points | 249 | 736 | 3 |
However, if they do not win the competition, Ferguson may find himself in a backroom role with a new man in the dugout at Ibrox.
That could be Steven Gerrard or Derek McInnes, who both have superb records in Scottish football but there would be concerns surrounding both candidates.
For Gerrard, the squad is nowhere near the level of the one that he led to the title in the 2020/21 campaign and his issues at Aston Villa and Al-Ettifaq do not inspire confidence that he has improved as a manager since he departed from Govan.
Meanwhile, McInnes has never managed a top club in Scotland and may find the pressure that managing the Light Blues brings too much to handle, as it is a step up from the likes of Aberdeen and Kilmarnock.
It remains to be seen what direction the Gers decide to go in but it promises to be an exciting summer on the blue side of Glasgow with the impending takeover.