Former Scotland captain Barry Ferguson to go on loan to Fleetwood Town

FORMER Rangers and Scotland captain Barry Ferguson is set for a loan switch to the bottom tier of English football.

The 34-year-old is set to go on loan from Blackpool to Fleetwood Town until January when it is expected he will be freed by the Championship side.

Ferguson had expected to play out his time at Blackpool in the youth team after submitting a transfer request that was not well recieved by chairman Karl Oyston.

Blackpool manager Ian Holloway revealed at the weekend that Oyston wanted the out of favour player to be frozen out.

However a compromise has been reached that will to see Ferguson, who has made only seven appearances this season, step down to League Two.

Holloway, who signed the midfielder from Birmingham City on an initial two-year deal in summer 2011 for £750,000, said: “I rang Karl as I had a bit of a problem.

“Sometimes as a manager you get situations you’re not sure about.

“Lately it’s been hard to get him to hear me. The other night he was great.

“We are hopeful he will go on a short-term loan to our local neighbours.

“My chairman dealt with it in a really good way and we’ve come to a really good solution.

“It was the chairman’s idea and it looks like it will be a good resolution for everyone.

“He’ll go on a short term loan and Karl has said he can have a free, that’s a big statement for a player he spent £750,000 on.

“He wants to prove to people that he can still play every week and this is a win-win situation for everyone.”

Holloway revealed at the end of last week that Ferguson’s request for a move had initially not gone down well with Oyston.

Holloway said: “No way did I want to do what Karl wanted me to do with Barry if a move didn’t go through - chuck him in the reserves.

“He wanted to stick him with the youth team and let him rot. It can’t be that, and we’ve managed to come through it.”