Barry Ferguson speaks out on Russell Martin after private Rangers chat
Barry Ferguson returned to Ibrox to watch Rangers take on Panathinaikos, not as a manager but as a fan.
It was a surreal moment for the man who took interim charge of the club for the last few months of last season.
Ferguson has confirmed that he’ll return to work for Rangers in an ambassadorial role.
However, it took a lengthy chat with new Rangers boss Russell Martin before he agreed to do that.
Ferguson reveals details of private chat with Russell Martin
It could have potentially been a sticky situation with a former manager remaining at Ibrox while a new coach aims to make his mark on the team.
However, Ferguson insisted there would be no friction at Rangers after his private chat with Martin.
Writing in his column for the Daily Record (25 July), Ferguson added that the chat made him more optimistic about the future direction of the club.
He said: “I did have a conversation with Russell Martin. The last thing I wanted to do was cause him any unnecessary distraction.
“The details of what we discussed will remain private but I will say this, I came off the phone feeling more relaxed about everything and confident that Russell is the right man to move the club forward.
“My last words to him were, ‘Listen, I’ll be right behind you’.”
Ferguson had previously suggested he would be happy to stay on as Rangers manager, but Andrew Cavenagh and the 49ers group decided on a different direction.
It then looked like Ferguson might seek a job away from Ibrox, but he was welcomed back to his new role with open arms.
Martin will be aware of the need for a fast start with Rangers
Martin has suggested that Rangers’ Champions League qualifiers won’t define their season.
Perhaps that’s true. If they go on to win the Scottish Premiership, few fans will remember these early European ties.
However, the new Rangers boss isn’t naive.
He’ll be fully aware that it’s important to start the season on the right foot.
| Manager | Wins | Draws | Losses |
| Ferguson | 6 | 5 | 4 |
| Martin | 1 | 0 | 0 |
It’s all smiles at Ibrox after the 2-0 victory against Panathinaikos, but things can turn quickly in football.
If his side crash and burn in Europe or start slow domestically, some people will be calling for Martin’s head.
Is that fair? Probably not. But that’s the nature of football. Martin signed up to these unspoken rules when he agreed to be Rangers boss, and he’ll have to make the best of the situation.
The first step will be finishing the job against Panathinaikos when Rangers visit Greece next week.
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