Celtic have last word in Old Firm clash

A low-key Old Firm encounter preceded Barry Ferguson's strongest public pitch yet to be made the Rangers manager.

- Ewan Murray

Nobody should be in any doubt that he can talk the talk.

Winds of change are about to blow through Ibrox. A takeover by an American investment group is close, Kevin Thelwell will arrive as the director of football and the Rangers squad will undergo a necessary overhaul. The most significant element, though, surrounds who will be leading the team by the time European qualifiers arrive in July. Steven Gerrard, Russell Martin and Sean Dyche are known to be in the frame. Ferguson, who was catapulted into the front line from ambassadorial duties, wants to see them all off. He also wants to do it quickly.

"The club need to make a decision really soon," Ferguson said. "There have been a few bumps but that does not scare me one little bit.

"I don't care about people's opinions. I know I can do the job. It does not scare me one little bit. This is a challenge I would meet head on. I know I would change things." Which is precisely what Rangers require; they are 17 points and almost 50 goals adrift of Celtic, who were champions before crossing the city. A chasm rather than a gap exists.