Rangers icon Barry Ferguson stepped in as interim manager in late February following the dismissal of Philippe Clement. Under his leadership, the Gers enjoyed a memorable European run, advancing to the Europa League quarter-finals and knocking out José Mourinho’s Fenerbahçe along the way.
However, domestic struggles persisted, with the team finishing a distant 17 points behind arch-rivals Celtic. The 47-year-old had openly expressed his interest in taking the job permanently, but as the managerial search concluded, he was informed he would not be retained. Instead, the club’s new American ownership opted for a fresh start, appointing Russell Martin as the new boss.
Now back in his ambassadorial role and resuming punditry duties with Go Radio, Ferguson has reflected on his brief but eventful spell in charge. While he “loved every minute,” he also opened up about the tough calls he had to make—none bigger than dropping goalkeeper Jack Butland.
Butland, who had been Rangers’ undisputed No. 1 since joining from Crystal Palace in 2023, saw his form decline after a strong debut season. Despite his heroics in the penalty shootout against Fenerbahçe, Ferguson made the bold decision to bench him for the crucial Europa League quarter-final against Athletic Bilbao. Backup Liam Kelly stepped in, saving a penalty in a hard-fought 0-0 draw.
Butland eventually returned for the final two league matches, showing signs of regained confidence. Ferguson admitted the decision to drop him was one of the hardest of his tenure.
“I don’t like saying ‘dropped’—I had to make a change,” Ferguson explained. “It was tough because I have a great relationship with Jack. I just felt he needed a break from the spotlight to reset.”
He described the one-on-one conversation as difficult, saying, “You could see Jack was hurting.” But he praised Butland’s professionalism, adding, “He trained brilliantly, supported Liam, and when he came back, he looked like the top keeper we knew from his first season.”
Ferguson’s interim stint may have been short, but it provided a revealing glimpse into the challenges of management—and the difficult choices that come with it.
