Rangers have confirmed the departure of Barry Ferguson and the interim coaching team following the conclusion of the season — and every fan owes them a heartfelt thank you.
Appointed in February after a dire run of form, Ferguson stepped into the dugout when the club was in crisis. A Hall of Famer, serial winner, and lifelong Ranger, Barry’s return instantly brought belief and pride back to the stands. His mere presence galvanised the fanbase — and in truth, Ibrox felt like Ibrox again.
Chairman Patrick Stewart led the tributes on Sunday, saying:
Everyone at Rangers Football Club would like to pass on their heartfelt thanks to Barry Ferguson and his staff. Their final match in charge was yesterday’s game at Hibernian.
Ferguson answered the call in the club’s hour of need back in February. He oversaw several memorable moments during his time in charge, including progression to the UEFA Europa League quarter-finals and a terrific win at Parkhead.
He now leaves this role alongside Neil McCann, Billy Dodds, and Allan McGregor. Everyone at Ibrox has enormous gratitude and best wishes for their efforts in these last few months.
From Half-Empty to Hopeful
When Ferguson took over, fan morale was on the floor. But overnight, he brought people back through the gates. His no-nonsense style replaced tired excuses and stat-padding after poor results. He called it exactly as the fans saw it — honest, raw, and passionate.
Yes, there were frustrations. His tactical inexperience showed at times, with questionable substitutions and selections. But make no mistake: he cared. Deeply.
There were brilliant highs too — not least the victory at Parkhead, which felt like a throwback to when Rangers played with fight and fury. And European progress under Ferguson was more than many expected.
A Harsh Reality
What ultimately became clear — to Ferguson and fans alike — is that this squad simply isn’t good enough. No matter the manager, the same old weaknesses continue to show.
Barry wasn’t afraid to call that out. He stood up, took responsibility, and tried to inject some steel back into a team that had gone soft under previous leadership. But he could only do so much with the tools at hand.
Issame Charaï Set to Remain at Ibrox
While Ferguson and his interim staff depart, one key figure remains in place — Issame Charaï. Originally brought to the club under Philippe Clement, Charaï was widely seen as more of a Rangers board appointment than a personal pick by the Belgian manager.
And that distinction now looks significant. Charaï continues to work within the club and is expected to form part of the new management structure going forward.
His presence provides a degree of continuity and suggests that the club may see him as an important figure in supporting the next head coach, particularly around player development and tactical planning.
Back to Ambassador — But Always a Ranger
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.
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.
Ferguson will now return to his ambassadorial role at the club, and rightly so. He’s part of Rangers’ DNA — and while this stint in the dugout didn’t lead to silverware, it brought back a connection between club and fans that had been missing.
From everyone at Ibrox Insider, thank you Barry. You gave it everything, and your passion reminded us what Rangers is all about.
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