Barry Ferguson ‘dreams of becoming Rangers boss’

Managing Rangers is the 'ultimate dream' for Barry Ferguson. Picture: Getty

The former Ibrox skipper is currently caretaker player-manager at Championship side Blackpool, but told BBC Scotland that he’d be ‘lying’ if he said it wasn’t his dream to return to Glasgow and manage the club.

Rangers will compete in the Scottish Championship next season, having recorded consecutive promotions, and are so far unbeaten in League One.

But defeat in the Ramsdens Cup final and a number of uninspiring performances against part-time opponents have drawn criticism from the club’s fans, while boardroom turmoil has led to fans threatening to withhold season ticket money.

And the former Scotland international backed Ibrox boss Ally McCoist, saying: “I know how difficult it must be for him. The club should be at the top challenging Celtic every season.

“The goal is to get through the divisions - he’s done that the last two years.”

And Ferguson insisted that his only concern is ensuring Blackpool’s Championship safety, after taking over from Paul Ince in January. Currently two points above the relegation zone, Blackpool are 20th - but the 35-year-old is ready for the challenge.

“It’s a difficult task but it’s not one I’ll shy away from,” he vowed, adding: “I know there are people out there that want me to fall flat on my face and that makes me more determined.

“I grew up with that at Rangers. Half of the country loved you and the other half hated you.”

Ferguson’s Rangers career ended on a downward spiral as he was stripped of the captaincy following misconduct while with Scotland, and left for Birmingham City at the end of the season, before turning down the chance to return to the international fold.

And Ferguson admitted that of the ‘many mistakes’ he made in his career, the Scotland scenario ‘probably tops it all.’

“If I could turn back the clock on one thing, I’d have done that a lot different. But it happened and I suffered the consequences,” he said.

“People can say what they want but playing for your country and captaining your country meant a lot to me.”