Ally McCoist fears Barry Ferguson could finish player’s Rangers career
Rangers manager Barry Ferguson has plenty to ponder ahead of the Europa League clash with Athletic Bilbao on Thursday.
The former Ibrox star has led the Gers on an unlikely Europa League run since replacing Phillipe Clement but faces a tough task to get past the Spaniards.
One of his selection decisions could bring an end to a star player’s career in Govan after recent struggles led to calls to take him out of the firing line.
Jack Butland faces Rangers axe for crucial Europa League tie
Butland has struggled for Rangers in recent weeks, making several mistakes, the latest against Hibernian in a 2-0 loss.
The English goalkeeper allowed the ball to go under him and should have been stronger and many observers have questioned whether he could be dropped for the Bilbao clash.
Ally McCoist is the latest to ponder Butland’s future and believes that his career at Ibrox could be over if he is dropped for Liam Kelly for the clash that could define the Gers’ season after a dismal league campaign.
In quotes reported by Daily Record (10 April), he said: “It’s a tough one. It looks as though his confidence is shot to pieces at this moment in time.
“This is a real balancing act because if you take him out of the team, you could finish him. But equally, if you leave him in the team and he continues to make mistakes, not only are you damaging him, but you are also damaging the team and the results.
“This is a really, really difficult situation. Again, Barry will have to sit down and have a chat with him. He’s made a good few uncharacteristic mistakes that have cost goals, of that there is no doubt. But it’s a gamble. If you leave him out, you could finish him. I’m actually not sure you do that.”
Butland could leave Rangers in summer transfer window
Butland has made exactly 100 appearances for the Gers and has been mostly reliable in that time but his performances have come under the microscope recently after several high-profile errors.
It is a summer of change in Auchenhowie, with the 49ers set to complete their takeover of the Govan club and sweeping changes may be made, including in the goalkeeping department.
| Stats (Scottish Premiership) | Butland |
| Matches | 26 |
| Goals conceded | 28 |
| Clean sheets | 10 |
| Errors leading to goal | 2 |
Butland will be sweating on his future after several blunders, with the likelihood that the Gers will be in the market for a new number one increasing with every error that he makes.
With a higher budget due to the impending takeover, the Light Blues can afford to fork out for a top quality keeper to at the very least compete with Butland to raise his performance levels, if not to take over permanently.
The experienced stopper needs to step up in the final few weeks of the campaign if he wants to show that he is still the man at Ibrox.