- Caretaker boss Ferguson has led his team to victory at Celtic Park, as well as knocking Jose Mourinho’s Fenerbahce out of Europa League
- Now assistant McCann insists Ferguson and his management team would not be frightened of taking the reins full-time at Ibrox
- McCann acknowledges, however, that decision is entirely in hands of those behind imminent takeover of club
Neil McCann insists that Barry Ferguson is ready to become the next manager of Rangers.
Ferguson was appointed caretaker boss until the end of the season following the departure of Philippe Clement in February, and named former team-mates McCann, Allan McGregor and Billy Dodds as his assistants.
In that time they have beaten Premiership champions Celtic at Parkhead and overcome Jose Mourinho’s Fenerbahce on their way to the Europa League quarter-finals.
With a US takeover of the club pending, no movement on the management front is expected before the summer.
However, McCann reckons that Ferguson and his staff have thrived under the responsibility of leading the team on a temporary basis and would have no fears about taking the reins full-time if they were approached to do so.
The former Rangers winger said: ‘It’s not my place to tell – if it is a new ownership coming in – if Fergie should get the job.
Barry Ferguson has thrived in the leadership role at Rangers, says his assistant Neil McCann
Ferguson and No2 McCann are helping the club bounce back from Clement era
Barry Ferguson on the training field with assistants Billy Dodds and Neil McCann in background
‘What I would say is that I’ve been very impressed by how he wants to work. He’s shown a willingness to allow Doddsy and I a lot of say on the training field and in matches.
‘A lot of people maybe thought from his coaching CV that he wouldn’t even be ready to even take this position. I think he’s proved that wrong.
‘So it’s not my place to say but I don’t think anybody in this building will tell you anything different.
‘In-house, speaking to Fergie and as a coaching staff, none of us are frightened of a challenge. Not one of us.
‘And if (the job) was to be presented to us, I don’t think there’d be any of us would say: “No, it’s not for us”.
‘But as I said it’s too far of a distance to even encourage that. We’ve got a huge game coming up against Hibs who are 15 unbeaten in the league.’
Rangers have seven league games and a massive European tie against Athletic Bilbao to play between now and the end of the campaign.
Neil McCann makes his point to the caretaker boss during another tense encounter
McCann admits that how Ferguson’s team fare during that spell could shape any decision over the next manager.
‘Of course it could have an influence, yes,’ added the former Dundee manager. ‘And you would hope that there’s been an influence already because the board felt they had to make a change.
‘When a board makes a change with a management team, then clearly they’re looking for a reaction immediately and they want results. And all we can do is try and get those.’
