Ex-Ger Durrant can’t wait to take on ‘underdog’ role
IAN DURRANT has returned to football as assistant manager at Dumbarton, and the former Rangers player and coach says he is ready to help them prove the doubters wrong by staying in the Championship.
Durrant has been out of the game since leaving the Ibrox club in the summer, but will now be No.2 to Sons boss Stevie Aitken after Stevie Farrell left the club to take charge of Stranraer.
The former Ibrox hero is over the moon to be back involved in the game he loves. He said: “I love football and I’m delighted to have the chance to be involved at Dumbarton.
“They are a great bunch of lads with great backing from the board and a manager who I am sure will go on to great things.
“Hopefully the crowds can turn out and we can help Dumbarton to be successful.
“When I left Rangers as a player I joined Kilmarnock. I wouldn’t say they were exactly in the same circumstances but they proved a lot of people wrong, finishing high up the top division.
“I’ve now got another challenge with Dumbarton and I can’t wait. They’ve done great in the Championship and of course I think they can stay up. They are usually favourites to go down at the start but everybody loves an underdog.
“We’ve made a few additions recently and all can play various positions. Together with what’s already there, hopefully they can push up the league.”
Durrant is grateful to Dum- barton boss Aitken for giving him a route back into football. He has already taken part in his first training session ahead of today’s game at Raith Rovers, and he liked what he saw from the group of players at the club.
“First and foremost I appreciate the opportunity Stevie has given me,” he said. “I’ve had a nice break from the game but after Christmas I made a conscious decision that I wanted to get back into it.
“I’ve missed being involved and when Stevie Farrell left for Stranraer, the chance came along and I was delighted when the manager asked me to be his assistant. My feeling at training last night was excitement at getting back in and getting the vocal chords working again.
“Stevie told me about the players through the week and didn’t hide anything from me, so there were no surprises.
“Hopefully there’s a bit we can add, but they are a great bunch of boys with a great work ethic. I know the likes of Darren Barr and Christian Nade as the ‘old school’ players, but I was delighted with how all of them approached training. I’m absolutely champing at the bit to get started.
“We know it will be a tough game at Stark’s Park, but I’m sure the players will be up for the challenge.”
The difficulties that his new team gave his old team during their time in the Championship has Durrant in confident mood going into the second half of the season. “Dumbarton always gave Rangers a tough game during the clubs’ two seasons in the Championship together,” he said.
“Stevie set his stall out to make the team harder to beat, but they created chances as well.
“When teams play against the Old Firm, sometimes they sit in and try their luck. Dumbarton always had a steely backbone about them and gave Rangers a close game.”
Meanwhile, with only a couple of days to go until the January transfer window closes, Sons boss Stevie Aitken has added development loan signing Ross McCrorie from Rangers to his squad.