Ferguson blames chairman and former manager for Ibrox problems
DEREK FERGUSON, the former Rangers player, last night described the current team as average and weak as he blamed Dave King and Mark Warburton for the club’s problems.
Now a respected pundit, Ferguson also admitted to being confused as to why Graeme Murty had not been replaced by a caretaker manager.
Rangers have lost both their league games since Murty took charge and it SIMO VALAKARI has staked an early claim to be named the new Motherwell manager in the immediate wake of Mark McGhee’s sacking yesterday morning.
The former Fir Park midfielder, who has guided SJK to the Finnish Cup, the Finnish League Cup and the Veikkausliiga championship, believes he is better equipped now for the role more than he was when pipped to the post back in 2015 by McGhee.
The Fir Park board took action yesterday to relieve the Scotland assistant manager of his duties on the back of a 5-1 dismantling from Dundee in front of an irate home crowd, a result that extended a dismal run for the Lanarkshire side to just two wins from 14 matches. First team coach Steve Robinson, assisted by James McFadden and Stephen Craigan, has been placed in interim charge.
However, after parting company with SJK only last week, Valakari is ready to launch himself back into management and has targeted a return to the place he called home from 1996-2000.
Speaking exclusively to Herald Sport, the man who was interviewed for the job last time out said: “It would be a great honour and a new challenge for me. I would be more ready than I ever was the last time. I have gained more experience and I am more complete now.
“With my previous club we were the champions in Finland. But of course my aim is to go to a higher league. Of course I was disappointed not to get the Motherwell job last time but part of me was happy to stay in Finland to win the championship.
“I have great memories. I know the club. Okay, it’s a long time since I’ve been there but Motherwell Football Club gave me the chance to start my professional football career. It would be nice to put something back to them. They have absolutely great fans. I loved the atmosphere and I want to be a part does seem that the youth coach has been forced into a situation which is not his fault.
“Someone has to get in there to sort out that mess,” said Ferguson. “I don’t think you can point the finger at the players or Murty at this moment. I don’t believe there is a lack of effort or desire, I just think you have a group there which is an average side.
“There are, unfortunately, average players at Rangers right now brought in by Mark Warburton. That’s where the of that. There is great potential there. They could get great results.
“I left SJK last week. I wanted to take the club forward but the owners had different ideas how to run the club. Under me we had been very successful. Winning promotion, the cup and the championship. It’s a lot of things but I walked out with my head held high because I’ve been very successful.
“Now I feel it is time for a new challenge.”
Motherwell will now take a measured approach when looking to fill the vacancy left by McGhee, and it was a similar process undertaken when the blame should lie. Supporters want to know what’s happening and the board, I think, have to stand up. They have a huge responsibility.
“The fans pay a lot of money and use up their time and effort to go and support their club. They are not getting answers.
“I thought there should have been a manager come in by now; whether it was to take them to the end of this season with a view to bring in someone else. I don’t think Murty is the answer decision was made on Monday night to let their manager go.
Demonstrations were held outside Fir Park during and after that Dundee defeat, however no decision on his future was made at that point. Herald Sport understands a meeting of club bosses, including two representatives from the Well Society, were present during a four-hour meeting at the stadium in which the call was then made. McGhee was informed when he returned to the club yesterday morning in person after being out of the country before then meeting with the players.
In what was his second spell in and that’s not having a go at him. He’s worked at a certain level. He’s worked with kids.
“Players don’t respond to that. I’ve been there myself. They will respect him but will they give him everything? I don’t think so.”
A criticism of Rangers all season has been that they are a fragile team. It’s an observation Ferguson agrees with.
He said: “There is a softness. There are not too many guys within that group who show the hunger and desire of a charge, Gordon Strachan’s assistant returned Motherwell to the top six during his first season, however a recent run has seen them lose 7-2 away to Aberdeen and now 5-1 at home to Dundee in two of their last three matches, leaving them two points off bottom.
A club statement said: “Motherwell Football Club has today [Tuesday] parted company with manager Mark McGhee.
“The decision, taken by the Board following consultation with the ‘Well Society, comes after a disappointing run of results, culminating in Saturday’s loss at home to Dundee. 38-year-old Kenny Miller. You can say they lack leadership throughout the club at every level. If you’re going to let the manager leave, you’ve surely got to have something in place. I’ve never been on a board, but it’s just common sense? You’d have thought they’d have something lined up.
“They needed leaders. They were making that step up so they needed that bit better quality.”