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IT'S NO TEDDY BEAR PICNIC

Daily Record

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August 22, 2025

I know what it's like to be on touchline while flak is flying... but Gers fans are entitled to be angry and Russell will need to be able to handle it

- Barry Ferguson

IT'S NO TEDDY BEAR PICNIC

IT can feel like the loneliest place in the world.

When you're standing on the touchline at Ibrox with your Rangers team two goals down and the punters are venting their anger.

I've experienced it. I know exactly how Russell Martin must have felt on Tuesday against Club Brugge.

It's not a nice feeling.

You feel helpless. I had it a couple of times when I was in the job last season.

But you know what I used to say to myself? I would be reacting exactly the same way if I were in the stands'.

At that moment, the fans are RIGHT.

They're entitled to be angry and frustrated.

As manager, it falls on you.

In games like that - and Russell said it himself afterwards you're just desperate to get the players in. You're looking at the clock and it's not moving.

You just want to sort it and ensure they go back out there far more competitive.

I had to actually try to keep my emotions in check at times but I don't think you saw that.

I was up and down like a yo-yo. I always tried to live in the moment and feed off the stands.

That's what I was like as a player and it is how I wanted to operate as a manager.

It's tough in the technical area when things are not going well and the fans have every right to voice their displeasure.

You definitely feel it and it's tough. But at this club it's the nature of the beast. I was lucky enough to be brought up with it. I know some players who come in are taken aback by it.

But it's Glasgow Rangers. You're there to do a job and that is to win games of football - or at least be competitive in them.

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