Credit:Imago

Carla Devine

Mon 14 April 2025 13:10, UK

Rangers are looking ahead with the hopes of Andrew Cavenagh and the 49ers Enterprises completing their takeover of the club.

For now, attention at Ibrox is on the Europa League with a quarter-final second leg against Athletic Bilbao to face on Thursday (17 April).

However, interim boss Barry Ferguson has no idea what the future holds for him past the end of the campaign, despite results looking up under his management.

Ferguson could be in contention for Rangers job

Ferguson did join Rangers on the premise of being an interim manager until the end of the campaign, but some impressive results have led to conversations over a permanent role.

Notably, Ferguson led his side past Fenerbahce in the Europa League to make it to the quarter-finals where they now go up against Athletic Bilbao.

The Gers played the majority of the first leg with 10 men, and Liam Kelly saved a penalty, so to come out on the other side at 0-0 was a good result.

Although Ferguson will be keen to focus on the game ahead, the conversations about his future have not stopped, and Jeff Stelling asked Ally McCoist if he would be in charge at Ibrox next season.

Speaking live on talkSPORT (14 April, 09:57 am), McCoist said: “You’re asking my honest opinion, I think the new owners will probably look for their own man.

“What Barry has done, he’s shown that he is more than capable of handling it, and I would suggest he’s done and is doing a good job. If he can get through this tie on Thursday, I’ll tell you right now he will come back into the equation.

“I just think the way the club is going, Jeff, with new owners. Now he might, he’s done well enough to come into the conversation absolutely. However, I think they’ll go down an avenue where they’ll want to bring in their own man or their own people.

“But, here’s a 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, mate.”

Ferguson has opportunity to stake claim for Rangers job

Although Ferguson has improved things as interim boss, things are far from perfect at Ibrox, and new problems, such as home form, have come into the limelight.

With that in mind, and given his lack of top-level experience, it would not be surprising to see Cavenagh and the 49ers decide to bring in their own appointment.

However, if Rangers did go to Bilbao on Thursday and get a result to progress to the semi-finals of the Europa League, then the interim boss would surely enter the conversation.

If he could achieve such things in difficult circumstances, it could make for a promising future going forward with more financial support.

Furthermore, as McCoist suggests, a new owner could see a role for Ferguson that isn’t in the hot seat as we have seen happen at other clubs before, and that would be well deserved.

For now, the 47-year-old needs to keep his mind focused on the job ahead, and he will be eager to take his side to victory.

If the Light Blues did win in Spain, who knows what thoughts that could throw at Cavenagh.