WARNING SIGNS
Why are Rangers targeting players before new boss, asks Ferguson
BARRY FERGUSON has backed rangers’ pursuit of Allan McGregor and Scott Arfield — but the former Ibrox skipper is concerned that players are being signed before a new manager has been appointed.
As Sportsmail revealed yesterday (right), Hull City keeper McGregor is nearing a stunning return to Govan, while Burnley midfielder Arfield is close to putting pen to paper on a pre-contract agreement.
rangers director of football Mark Allen is pressing ahead with summer recruitment plans despite the continuing uncertainty over the managerial position.
While Ferguson would love to see players of the calibre of McGregor and Arfield at Ibrox, he fears his old club’s approach of targeting players before the managerial void has been filled could backfire.
‘I like who rangers are interested in, but I find it strange and it worries me we’re going for Allan McGregor and Scott Arfield when we don’t have a manager in place,’ he said.
‘I think Allan McGregor would be a top signing for rangers. I don’t know Scott Arfield personally, but he’s had a great career in england and, having played against him, he looks a strong character.
‘But it becomes a problem if a new manager comes in and doesn’t fancy him.
‘I’d like to think rangers have got a new manager in mind who they are mentioning these players to, because the two who have been mentioned are certainly good enough to play for rangers.
‘For me, the manager is the main man. The manager should identify signing targets and ask the director of football to
go out and get them. I don’t understand how you can possibly have a director of football signing the players. ‘It’s a strange set-up and a lot of managers wouldn’t come in under those circumstances. They would want to decide who is being signed because, ultimately, the responsibility falls on them to get the right results. ‘Certainly, when I’ve spoken to managers while doing my coaching badges or visiting clubs, the way they like to operate is that they identify players and the director of football goes out and gets them. ‘But maybe Mark Allen is speaking to a manager. I would hope he is, because decisions also have to be made on loan players such as Jamie Murphy, who I think Rangers should sign permanently in the summer.’ McGregor played a starring role in Rangers’ run to the UEFA Cup final in 2008, but will be unpopular with some supporters for quitting the club in the wake of its financial meltdown in 2012. Ferguson, whose old side head to Celtic Park on Sunday when Brendan Rodgers’ men could potentially clinch seven titles in a row, backed his former team-mate to win over any doubters if the move goes through. ‘I had criticism when I came back to Ibrox (in 2005) after two years at Blackburn Rovers,’ said Ferguson. ‘I still have people just now who are not happy that I left the first time around. ‘So you are going to get criticism. It’s part and parcel of football.’ Reports last night suggested with McGregor set to return, current Rangers No 1 Wes Foderingham could quit the Ibrox club.