Barry Ferguson touted as Rangers manager after leaving Clyde

Barry Ferguson resigned as manager of Clyde following defeat by Annan. Picture: Michael Gillen.

Ferguson tendered his resignation following Saturday’s 1-0 defeat by Annan, extending a miserable run which now stands at ten league matches without a win.

As statement issued by Clyde read: “The Board has today reluctantly accepted the resignation of first-team manager, Barry Ferguson.

“Despite a welcome run in the William Hill Scottish Cup, which ended with an agonising defeat to Championship side Ayr United in a fifth round replay, both the manager and the club were disappointed with the recent poor run of League results, often not reflecting the effort and standard of play, which culminated in the defeat at Annan yesterday.

“That result leaves the club with only an outside chance of achieving the objective of securing a play-off place and then promotion to League 1.

“The club would like to thank Barry for his unstinting commitment to the job over the last two and a half years and wishes him every success in the future.”

Ferguson himself added: “I want to wish the club all the very best in the future. I hope that it can go on and achieve its aim of reaching the play-offs this season.”

The former Scotland international midfielder was appointed at Broadwood in June 2014 but has been unable to guide the League 2 side out of the bottom tier of Scottish football.

Last season, they finished in third position but failed to win promotion through the play-offs, losing 3-2 on aggregate to Queen’s Park.

Despite beginning this season as favourites to win the League 2 title, Clyde currently lie in eighth position.

Ladbrokes bookmakers responded to Ferguson’s resignation by installing him as favourite to be named as the next manager of Rangers. He made 288 league appearances for the Ibrox club where he spent two spells as a player, from 1996 to 2003 and 2005 to 2009.