Barry Ferguson has defended Allan McGregor's permanent appointment as Rangers' lead goalkeeping coach, insisting the former Ibrox No. 1 is a quiet, unassuming character who transforms into a different animal when training or a match begins.
Ferguson's Endorsement of McGregor
Ferguson, who brought McGregor back to Rangers during his own spell in charge, fully supports Derek McInnes' decision to appoint the 44-year-old on a permanent basis. "I'm fully in favour of that move because Greegsy has so much to offer," Ferguson wrote in his column. He dismissed suggestions the appointment was an old pals' act, stating: "I appointed him because I felt he had so much to give – not just to the first-team goalkeepers but the younger ones in the academy."
McGregor's Coaching Qualities
Ferguson highlighted McGregor's meticulous planning and intelligence as a coach. "His planning for training was meticulous and he's an intelligent guy," Ferguson said. "I used to tell him to just take the goalies away and do his stuff. I left him to it. But I knew I could do that with the keepers because they were in brilliant hands." He added that McGregor takes defeats to heart, saying: "Even as a goalie coach, you could see how much it hurt him when we didn't win a game. He's the exact same as me in that regard."
Benefit for New Keeper Ivor Pandur
The appointment comes as Rangers prepare to integrate new goalkeeper Ivor Pandur, arriving from Hull City. Ferguson believes McGregor's experience, including having worked alongside Stefan Klos at Rangers, will be invaluable. "Allan's experience will make him a great goalkeeper coach," Ferguson said. "This is a guy who grew up working alongside someone of the calibre of Stefan Klos at Rangers."
Identity and Club Culture
Ferguson also stressed the importance of having people at the club who understand its identity, something he says has been missing for years. "It's not just about getting 'Rangers men' back into the club," he wrote. "But we had an identity. And we had people in the background who understood what the club was all about. Then you build around that. People from different countries and different leagues then buy into it." He praised McInnes' recent signings, saying they appear to understand the club's ethos.
Potential Return of Vaclav Cerny
Ferguson also weighed in on the potential return of winger Vaclav Cerny, whom he worked with during his time in charge. "I'd take him in a heartbeat," Ferguson said. "The thing about Cerny is, he's a game-changer. His numbers were really good at Rangers. When we got him on it, he was on fire for us." He noted that Cerny already knows the club and would not need a settling-in period, calling the move a "no-brainer" if available.
