Rangers are desperate for the 49ers Enterprises to make the correct managerial appointment once they complete their impending takeover.
Interim boss Barry Ferguson did not do himself many favours on Saturday, as the Bears suffered a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Hibernian.
Since taking the managerial reins from former boss Philippe Clement, Ferguson is still yet to lead the Gers to a victory at Ibrox.
However, he has got supporters on side after guiding Rangers to the Europa League quarter-finals and steering them to victory over bitter rivals Celtic on 16 March.
Keith Jackson urges 49ers to stick with Ferguson
Ferguson will have been as disappointed as everyone after the defeat against Hibernian, despite the question marks following whether he should be appointed permanently.
| Opponent | Result |
| Fenerbahce (H) | 0-2 L (Rangers win on penalties) |
| Celtic (A) | 2-3 W |
| Dundee (A) | 3-4 W |
| Hibernian (H) | 0-2 L |
However, Keith Jackson believes that the former midfielder knows exactly what it takes to succeed at Ibrox, and it could be a mistake to look elsewhere.
Writing in the Daily Record [7 April], Jackson said: “But – and you’ll just have to trust me on this one – they have exactly the right man for the job in Barry Ferguson even if they can’t quite see it for themselves at this low point in the caretaker manager’s short stint at the helm.
“And that’s precisely why it might be a mistake for Rangers – and their incoming new American owners – to look elsewhere when it comes to deciding who ought to be leading from the front when next season begins.
“This is not time for another rebuild or even a star-spangled revolution. It’s gone too far for that.
“Yes, Ferguson may lack managerial experience, but what he knows better than almost anyone else are the standards required to make this club competitive and capable of offering up a credible challenge to Celtic’s domestic dominance.
“And that wealth of priceless knowledge should not be ignored or undervalued by Andrew Cavenagh when it comes to throwing out the bathwater in the summer.”
Ferguson can boost Rangers credentials in the Europa League
Ferguson’s chances of becoming the next permanent boss at Ibrox certainly took a hit when he lost to Hibs on Saturday, even though the Edinburgh side are the most in-form Scottish Premiership outfit.
But the 13-point gap between Rangers and Celtic means that Ferguson’s future at Ibrox will not be decided via his success at domestic level.
However, on Thursday, the Bears face the first leg of their Europa League quarter-final tie with Bilbao, and the European competition presents the Ibrox side with the only silverware they can still win this season.
If Ferguson can steer Rangers to victory over Bilbao, who currently sit fourth in La Liga, and guide his side to the Europa League semi-finals, then the 49ers would surely have to acquire his services permanently.
The Gers enjoyed an unlikely run to the Europa League final in 2022, but Ferguson has a chance to go one step further than that and make himself even more of an Ibrox hero.
