New Rangers caretaker boss Barry Ferguson has told his doubters to judge him at the end of his three-month stint in charge.
The Ibrox icon has been put asked to take over following the sacking of Philippe Clement and will lead out the team for the first time on Wednesday when they head to Rugby Park.
But the decision to appoint the former skipper on an interim basis has divided an already fractured support, with some claiming the 47-year-old does not have the required credentials to lead the Light Blues. But Ferguson – who has managed at lower league level with Kelty Hearts, Clyde and Alloa as well as a brief stint as caretaker boss with Blackpool – is backing himself to lift a team that has hit rock bottom.
“Judge me at the end of the three months,” was his message to his critics. “I have no issue with that – everybody is entitled to their opinion. One thing you will get from me and my staff is that we won’t take this lightly. We’re taking it seriously.
“That will start tomorrow night but I would rather be judged come the end of the season. I know I’ll also be judged game by game but that’s just the nature of the beast when you’re at Glasgow Rangers.”
Ferguson has been joined by fellow Gers legends Allan McGregor, Billy Dodds and Neil McCann. They will be up against another former team-mate in Derek McInnes on Wednesday as they kick-off against Kilmarnock, a team Clement’s side have previously tripped up against this term.
But the new gaffer – a Record Sport columnist – is confident he can get a reaction from a team still reeling from shock home defeats to Queen’s Park and St Mirren. He said: “We’ve got 11 weeks to go and a number of games to go. We’re still in the Europa League so we have to be positive and make sure we win every single game.
“Now that’s a big ask. I know that. But I’m positive and we need a bit of positivity about the place.
“The players fully understand that. I spoke to them today and they know the demands I’ll be putting on them.
“That needs to start at Kilmarnock. It will be difficult. You know what happened the last time they went down there. So this needs to be a different Rangers team that turns up on Wednesday.”
Ferguson was named Rangers captain aged just 22 and eventually went on to lift 15 major honours at Ibrox – including five league titles. The current holder of the armband James Tavernier has won just three in almost a decade at the club having worked his way through six permanent gaffers and four caretakers. But Fergie says he won’t be swapping his skipper.
He said: “I don’t think there was any need to change. I actually had a good chat with James last night. He came in when we were in getting to know some of the staff and the surroundings. It was good to get a sit down with him. I looked him in the eyes and I have no doubt he will give me 100 percent to lead this club until the end of the season.”