Rangers' McCulloch wants pal Ferguson to stay at Ibrox

Published on Monday 1 June 2009 09:57

LEE McCULLOCH is hoping the Rangers fans have not seen the last of Barry Ferguson.

The midfield duo paired up to help the Ibrox side to their Homecoming Scottish Cup final win over Falkirk at Hampden on Saturday.

After Nacho Novo's spectacular strike seconds after the break secured the domestic double for Walter Smith's side, most Gers fans left the national stadium thinking they had seen Ferguson in a blue jersey for the last time.

The 31-year-old made his first start for two months since being suspended and stripped of the captaincy by Smith following his part in the 'Boozegate' affair. However, McCulloch believes Ferguson might see out the last year of his contract. "I don't know if it was Barry's last game," he said.

"People are making a big thing of it but Barry has a year left on his contract and so we will wait and see what happens. I hope he stays. He still has something to offer the club.

"He has been a great servant to Rangers, a great player to play with and he is a lovely guy. I think he is a good guy to have at the club, but it's not up to me, it's up to Barry and the club. But as a player and a friend, I'd like to see him stay."

McCulloch accepts that failing to stop Celtic capturing their fourth Clydesdale Bank Premier League title in succession may have led to speculation about the future of more players than Ferguson.

He said: "People were saying there would be mass clear-outs if we didn't win the league this season and anyone in the squad could have gone. So there was a lot of pressure on us.

"Now we might be able to keep our big-name players so that is great."