Rangers have announced that Barry Ferguson will not continue as the club’s head coach.
The 47-year-old was named interim boss until the end of the season following the dismissal of Philippe Clement at the end of February.
Rangers were held to a 2-2 draw by Hibernian at Easter Road on Saturday in what represents Ferguson’s 14th and final match in charge of the club across all competitions.
The club legend and Hall of Fame member departs Ibrox with a record of six wins, four draws and four defeats, with Rangers finishing second in the Scottish Premiership and 17 points behind champions Celtic.
Rangers have confirmed that Ferguson will remain as an ambassador at the club, but he leaves his head coach role along with coaches Neil McCann, Billy Dodds and Allan McGregor “with enormous gratitude and best wishes of everyone at Ibrox for their efforts in these last few months.”
Ferguson: “These last three months has been an enormous honour”
“I’ve already lived the dream as a player and as captain of Rangers, and to do so as head coach in these last three months has been an enormous honour for me,” Ferguson told the club’s official website.
“There have been some ups and downs, but I have loved this experience and given it my all throughout.
“I want to thank Neil, Billy and Allan, the three staff members who came in with me, and all the other staff who have supported me during my time in charge. Indeed from everyone at the training centre and at Ibrox, the backing I have received has been phenomenal.
“Above all, I want to thank our supporters. There is no doubt this has been a difficult season, but the backing the team and I have continued to receive in spite of that has been incredible.
“I have said, no matter how this period panned out, I would always remain a committed supporter of the club, and I look forward to remaining a Rangers ambassador.
“I wish whoever becomes the new manager, every success in the job.”
Rangers “progressing well” in search for new manager
Rangers CEO Patrick Stewart has paid tribute to Ferguson and has revealed that the hunt for a new manager ahead of next season is “progressing well”.
“The club, and I am sure all our supporters, will be forever grateful to Barry for stepping up and taking on the role of head coach,” said Stewart.
“He and his staff have performed admirably amongst some trying circumstances and achieved some excellent results along the way.
“Barry, Neil, Billy and Allan all had distinguished playing careers with Rangers, and they have all enhanced their standing with the club for their work since February. The reception they received at Ibrox on Wednesday night was fully merited, and I know meant so much to Barry and his team.
“The search for our new head coach is progressing well, and we look forward to concluding our process in the coming period.”
Who could replace Ferguson as Rangers manager?
As things stand, Steven Gerrard is the bookmakers’ favourite to make a remarkable return to Ibrox, where he enjoyed a successful spell as Rangers boss between June 2018 and November 2021, winning the 2020-21 Premiership title with 102 points and going the entire campaign unbeaten.
Gerrard, who went on to manager Aston Villa for just 11 months, has been out of work since leaving Saudi Pro League outfit Al Ettifaq by mutual consent in January.
Real Madrid assistant coach Davide Ancelotti, the son of incoming Brazil boss Carlo Ancelotti, has also been heavily linked with the Rangers hotseat and the Glaswegian giants are understood to have made contact with the 35-year-old, who is now open to the idea of becoming a manager in his own right.
French news outlet L’Equipe claim that Will Still has been on Rangers’ radar and speculation has intensified after the 32-year-old confirmed on Saturday that he will be leaving his post as Lens head coach.
However, the report claims that Still has turned down the opportunity to join Rangers as it is understood that he is keen to return to England to live closer to his family, with both Southampton and Hull City believed to be interested in his services.
Meanwhile, the likes of Russell Martin, Rob Edwards, Marco Rose, Gary O’Neil – who are all out of work – and Sheffield Wednesday’s Danny Rohl have also been linked with the Rangers job.
