Allan was a loony bin at Rangers but it’s not mad to say he’s better than Goram,Klos, Friedel,Hart and Foster

BARRY FERGUSON rates Allan McGregor as the best keeper he played with and insists he’d be a huge signing for Rangers.

But the former Ibrox skipper believes the 36-year-old would be as important in the dressing room as he would be between the sticks.

Ferguson played with the likes of Andy Goram, Joe Hart, Brad Friedel and Stefan Klos in his days with Gers, Blackburn and Birmingham.

Yet he puts McGregor above them all and hopes the Ibrox club can bring the Hull goalie back, six years after he left to join Besiktas.

McGregor was one of the so-called Gang of Six who refused to transfer his contract over to Charles Green’s newco after the club’s financial collapse.

Some fans have never forgiven him but Ferguson, who made a return to Ibrox from Blackburn, knows the only way to win them over is with performances.

He said: “Allan is probably the best goalkeeper I’ve played with – and I’ve played with some top ones like Goram, Klos, Hart, Ben Foster and Friedel.

“I’ve seen a few of Allan’s games on TV for Hull City and saw the Scotland game over in Hungary. It’s what Rangers need.

“He’s different class as a goalie but he’s also a strong character and that’s what that place needs. He knows the demands and the pressures.

“There’s a lot of good players at Rangers but can they handle the pressures and the demands upon them? That’s my worry.

“He will go in that dressing room and he will demand from guys and he will make sure he gets the best out of them.

“Allan wasn’t just a loony bin, he was an absolute loony bin, but he had everything as a keeper. He’s still got that daft streak but that’s what I like about him.

“He’d be a top signing but he might have to deal with the reaction of the fans over his departure. All you can do if you come back is make sure you perform on the pitch.

“I still have people just now not happy I left Rangers the first time around but that’s part and parcel. All you can do is try and put a smile on people’s faces on a matchday.”

Ferguson admitted he was more sad than angry at his old club’s meek 4-0 defeat against Celtic in the Scottish Cup.

Skipper Lee Wallace and vice-captain Kenny Miller, who didn’t feature in the game, have been suspended by the club for allegedly letting rip in the dressing room afterwards.

Ferguson would be more worried if voices weren’t raised and that’s where McGregor’s influence could be crucial.

He said: “I don’t think anybody would accept that sort of performance. I wasn’t even angry, it was a sad watch for me.

“They need to get in proper leaders who can make sure in the build-up to games they let these guys know what it means.

“I don’t just mean for those in the dressing room but for people who pay hard-earned money to go and watch. It was a hard watch for me and it’s important Rangers get guys in during the summer.

“In the Rangers teams I played in, if we got a heavy defeat against Celtic or lost to Inverness Caley Thistle, when you went into the dressing room there would be words exchanged.

“There would be barneys and fisticuffs. I’ve no problem with that. It shows people care and are passionate. We don’t know what happened in the dressing room at Hampden but I’d be worried if there was nothing happening.

“These people are probably a dying breed. I don’t know if it’s the people who bring you up through the system but I had hard taskmasters who were tough on me when I was younger.

“It made you the type of character that wasn’t well liked out on the pitch and team-mates would mump and moan about you – but you got the best out of your team-mates.”

Graeme Murty’s side have a chance to make up for their dire display at Parkhead on Sunday when they face a Celts side looking for the title.

If Aberdeen slip up against Hearts on Friday a point would be enough for the Hoops.

Asked if Gers can get revenge, Ferguson said: “It’s only two weeks after they got a trouncing in the Cup. Do they have enough characters in the dressing room?

“But I’d like to think they can go out and at least lay a glove on them. I know what I’d be saying: ‘Listen guys, we don’t want a carnival atmosphere and a party for Celtic’.

“Rangers have to get a bit of pride back, not just for themselves but for their fans.”

●Barry Ferguson visited Dumbarton’s Knoxland Primary School to support the Tesco Bank Football Challenge.