Rangers

Image source, SNS

Rangers interim head coach Barry Ferguson tells BBC Scotland: "It was crazy. Some of our play was really good, but we could have won by a number of goals. That's frustrating, we weren't ruthless in brilliant positions.

"It was a clear goal, it was there for everybody [to see]. It was clear to me it was over the line, then it goes to VAR and for some odd reason, they don't see it being a goal.

"That's frustrating, disappointing, and worrying. We need to be getting these decisions correct, that's why VAR is here. It's clear VAR's not working.

"I've watched it five or six times. It's clear as day that the ball is over the line."

On his future, Ferguson adds: "It's been a brilliant three months, I've loved every single minute of it. We'll see over the next few days the way the club will go forward.

"I had a role before at the club which I really enjoyed, before this got sprung on me. I'd have been an absolute mug not to take it.

"I knew there was going to be challenges, but anyone who knows me personally knows I'm not scared of a challenge. It's a challenge I'd be more than willing to take on.

"It's not a project. It's about winning now. You can't come in and have a couple of years to get it right. You need to get it right in the summer, get a team on the pitch that's capable of playing in Europe, capable of playing 50-60 games a season.

"The profile needs to be spot on. Because it's far too long that Celtic have been dominant. We need to get back to challenging.

"Other managers have come in and never worked in this league, but it's a challenging, difficult league that does not get enough credit. You need to get it right and if you don't, you'll suffer.

"There's a hell of a lot of work to be done, but that has to be the case. It's an exciting time."

Image source, SNS

Nicolas Raskin. One of Rangers' best players in the last couple of weeks, he was the orchestrator of plenty of their attacks, feeding Vaclav Cerny, Cyriel Dessers and Danilo in front of him.

Created more chances than any other Rangers player, drove them forward into the final third and got a goal as well.

Rangers are interested in Cameron Burgess with the 29-year-old Scotland-born Australia centre-half's contract expiring with relegated Ipswich Town. (The Herald), external

AEK Athens are highly interested in 30-year-old Rangers striker Cyriel Dessers. (Giannis Chorianopoulos on X), external

Strasbourg are interested in 22-year-old Rangers forward Hamza Igamane. (Mohamed Toubache-Ter on X), external

Former Rangers loan forward Abdallah Sima has been offered by Brighton & Hove Albion as part of their £30m bid for 17-year-old striker Charalampos Kostoulas, but Olympiakos are likely to reject the offer. (The Athletic), external

Real Madrid assistant Davide Ancelotti will join father Carlo in charge of Brazil for their matches with Ecuador and Paraguay next month, but the Italian has not ruled out a move to Rangers as he considers his options amid interest from the Ibrox club in appointing him head coach. (Rangers Review), external

David Ancelotti has decided to postpone his career as a head coach and will accompany father Carlo as they move from Real Madrid to take charge of the Brazilian national team, with the 35-year-old remaining until the 2026 World Cup. (Alberto Pereiro on X), external

Rangers will ramp up their search for a manager next week, with Real Madrid assistant Davide Ancelotti still a contender and with Gary O'Neil, Russell Martin, Sean Dyche and interim head coach Barry Ferguson having also been considered. (Daily Record), external

Rangers are exploring a deal with Raith Rovers to loan top talent out as the Ibrox hierarchy look into lower league partnerships. (Daily Record), external

Read Saturday's Scottish Gossip in full.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, SNS

Hibs pair Joe Newell and Rudi Molotnikov (both groin) are still out while head coach David Gray reported that a couple of others are doubtful with "bumps and bruises".

Barry Ferguson will assess his Rangers squad but Ianis Hagi, Ridvan Yilmaz and Dujon Sterling remain out.

Image source, SNS

Connor Barron says "standards are a lot higher" at Rangers compared to Aberdeen as he looks to kick on after a turbulent first season at Ibrox.

The 22-year-old midfielder has made 33 starts in 45 appearances since his summer switch from Pittodrie.

While Rangers have endured a trophyless campaign and sacked Philippe Clement as manager, Barron is "really excited with my first season".

Speaking before Rangers' final game of the season away to Hibs on Saturday, he added: "To play as many games as I have and to do what I have done, I've been quite happy with it.

"But I want to go and do better next season. That's just how I am. I'm hungry for more and we'll go away after the game against Hibs and work on my game to get better again.

"Obviously it's disappointing to not be as successful as I would have liked to have been in my first season and have a few trophies.

"But you learn a lot and you carry that with you and that's what I've done. I pick up a lot as a player every day in training and the standards are a lot higher than what they were in the previous club.

"So that's one just for example, but there's so many things and it's good as well to have that and to learn."

Barron is relaxed about the prospect of having to impress another new manager next season, with interim boss Barry Ferguson expected to be overlooked as an American consortium of Andrew Cavenagh and the 49ers Enterprises edges closer to completing its takeover of the club.

"No, that's football. That's what happens. I've been in the game a while and I went through lots of managers at Aberdeen in my time," added Barron.

"You've just got to do what you can as a player and be the best every day and what will happen will happen."

Barron has learned a lot from former Scotland midfielder Ferguson plus other ex-Rangers and Scotland players on his staff, Neil McCann and Billy Dodds.

"All three of them have been great. Individual sessions after training, little bits after games here and there," he said.

"I've just been a sponge taking it all in and it's been great working with them so far."

Clive Lindsay
BBC Sport Scotland

Image source, SNS

He has been much maligned and handed a perhaps unfair share of the blame for Rangers' failure to challenge for silverware this season, but Cyriel Dessers has shrugged off the criticism to rise to the top of the Premiership scoring charts.

The 30-year-old Nigeria striker's double in Wednesday's 3-1 win over Dundee United took his total to 17 goals, one better than Celtic forward Daizen Maeda and Dundee's Simon Murray.

Considering the contrasting seasons the rival Glasgow clubs have had, that is no mean feat.

Indeed, his five goals from his past four appearances takes his total in all competitions to 28.

Score again in Saturday's final league game away to Hibs and Dessers will match a run of goals last achieved by a Rangers player just over a year ago by captain and right-back James Tavernier.

The last Rangers forward to achieve that was Alfredo Morelos in his prime four years ago and suggests that, whoever takes over from interim head coach Barry Ferguson at the end of the season, Dessers will be viewed as an asset rather than a liability.

Read all the final weekend Premiership picks

Image source, SNS

• After their 2-0 win in April, Hibs could pick up back-to-back top-flight victories over Rangers for the first time since November 2005 under Tony Mowbray.

• Rangers are unbeaten in their past 25 top-flight away games against Hibs (W16 D9) since a 2-1 defeat in September 2006 under Paul Le Guen.

• Hibs have only won their final game in one of their past eight top-flight league seasons (D4 L3 – including curtailed 2019-20), a 4-0 victory over St Johnstone in 2021-22.

• Rangers have only lost their final game in one of their past 16 league seasons (W9 D6 – including curtailed 2019-20 season), a 2-1 defeat to Kilmarnock in 2018-19.

• Cyriel Dessers is now the top scorer in this season's Scottish Premiership with 17 goals, scoring in each of his past four games in the league (five goals). The last player to score in five successive appearances in the competition for Rangers was James Tavernier in April 2024, and the last forward to do so was Alfredo Morelos in March 2021.

Rangers have held positive discussions with Real Madrid assistant Davide Ancelotti over their head coach vacancy, a decision is expected by the end of May and, although no contract has yet been tabled, the 35-year-old will not wait for other clubs to table offers for his services if he decides the project is right for him. (Rangers Review), external

Rangers managerial target Davide Ancelotti is set to join his father, Carlo, in moving from Real Madrid to the Brazilian national team in South America for World Cup qualifiers against Ecuador and Paraguay in June but has interest from a number of clubs in his services. (The Athletic), external

Rangers are set to step up their efforts to bring Steven Gerrard back to Ibrox as they approach the end of Barry Ferguson's spell as interim head coach. (Football Insider), external

Sean Dyche, who has been without a job since leaving Everton earlier this season and has been linked with the Rangers job, says he has no immediate plans to return to management. (Stick To Football podcast), external

With Vaclav Cerny's future uncertain as he approaches the end of his loan spell with Rangers from Wolfsburg, the 27-year-old winger's wife, Denisa, has posted a picture of a packed suitcase on her Instagram account saying they will be spending some time in their native Czech Republic this summer. (Scottish Sun), external

Read Friday's Scottish Gossip in full.

Image source, Getty Images

Sportscene pundits Michael Stewart and Charlie Mulgrew discuss Cyriel Dessers' performance against Dundee United and whether Rangers need to replace the striker.

Image source, SNS

Rangers striker Cyriel Dessers expressed his pride at scoring his 50th goal for the club, but admits the lack of silverware this season is "very painful".

Dessers, 30, scored twice in Wednesday's 3-1 win over Dundee United, taking his tally for the season to 28.

Despite the Nigeria international's excellent season statistically, it has been another disappointing one for the Ibrox outfit, which will end on Saturday at Hibernian.

"That's very painful, because obviously when you score this number of goals, you hope you can keep something in your hands as well," Dessers said.

"But this will only give more fuel for the summer, to work hard in the summer and go again and never give up.

"I think that's something that you have to say as a team, whatever happened, we never gave up, but we know we need to do better and we will hopefully do it.

"50 goals in two seasons. Yeah, it makes me very proud to achieve this milestone for a big club like Rangers in the first place.

"It a very special feeling and to do it at Ibrox in a game you win is obviously a very nice feeling."

Watch highlights as Rangers win 3-1 against Dundee United in the Scottish Premiership.

Available to UK users only.

We asked for your views on Rangers' 3-1 Premiership win against Dundee United.

Here's what some of you said:

Chris: I would keep Barry Ferguson as manager. He knows the landscape of Scottish football and has the Rangers identity. Done a good job with a squad of indifferent players. Some decent, some need to go. This is Philippe Clement's squad. Let Barry build his own squad. I don't want foreign managers, we have been burnt before. Remember Paul Le Guen? Give Ferguson the job now. Deep down I think most Rangers fans would agree.

Elaine: Too little, too late unfortunately. I feel for Ferguson who has had to work with someone else's team and there are a lot in that team who have had other managers sacked. I'd love to see him stay in some capacity but don't think the Americans will want him. Roll on next season.

Sandy: Keep Barry and co in charge. I feel with them back at the club we have our identity back.

Ronnie: I would give Barry the managers job, or at least part of the coaching staff. I have been saying for years he should be at Ibrox.

Rangers are ready to offer Nicolas Raskin an extension beyond his current contract, which runs until 2027, as they would not want to lose both the Belgium midfielder and 22-year-old Morocco forward Hamza Igamane this summer amid mounting interest from top clubs in England and France. (TeamTalk), external

Rangers interim head coach Barry Ferguson has rejected the suggestion Vaclav Cerny was substituted during Wednesday's 3-1 win over Dundee United to allow the 27-year-old on-loan Wolfsburg winger to say goodbye to the club's fans. (The Herald), external

Rabbi Matondo will return to Rangers next week after Hannover 96 opted not to buy the 24-year-old on-loan Wales winger. (The National), external

Blackburn Rovers manager Valerien Ismael says Tyrhys Dolan will decide on his future after taking a holiday as the 23-year-old winger nears the end of his contract amid reported interest from Celtic and Rangers and after fans chanted his name and urged him to stay following their season-ending game against Sheffield United. (Daily Record), external

Former Norwich City defender Russell Martin, who has been strongly linked with Rangers and Leicester City, is not in the running to be the Championship club's new head coach. (Pink Un), external

Cesc Fabregas will continue to be the head coach of Como after rejecting overtures from Bayer Leverkusen. (Sky Sports), external

Rangers have received a boost should they wish to appoint Real Madrid assistant Davide Ancelotti as their new head coach with Como's interest in the 35-year-old ending after Cesc Fabregas reportedly rejected the chance to replace Xabi Alonso at Bayer Leverkusen. (Football Insider), external

Read Thursday's Scottish Gossip in full.

Image source, SNS

Image source, SNS

• Rangers have scored in 32 of their 37 games, only Celtic (34) have scored goals in more matches in the Premiership this season.

• Rangers have won 16 points from losing positions in the Premiership this season, more than any other team.

• Dundee United have lost 21 points from winning positions in the Premiership this season, only Dundee (28) and Hibernian (25) have lost more.

• Cyriel Dessers has contributed to goals in his last 4 games in the Premiership (5 goals, 0 assists).

• Cyriel Dessers has scored in each of his last 4 games in the Premiership (5 goals), his longest scoring streak in the competition.

Cyriel Dessers' double and a fine Nicolas Raskin strike ensured Rangers secured back-to-back home Scottish Premiership wins in their final appearance at Ibrox this season.

Whether you were at Ibrox tonight or not, we want to hear from you!

Was the Barry Ferguson's final home game in charge? Have a few players bid farewell?

Whatever you're thinking, give us your take on things here.

Image source, SNS

Rangers interim head coach Barry Ferguson: "That was important to make sure we got the three points. We knew Dundee United were going to come here, sit behind the ball and try and frustrate us - I had to make a tactical change midway through the first half to try and use the wide areas a bit more.

"It was a disappointing goal to lose, but the boys reacted really well to get back into it at half-time. We spoke about a few things we can do better and then I thought once we got that second goal, again, we finished the game really strongly and could have got a couple more.

"It's easy to be in holiday mode but I demanded that wasn't the case, certainly, starting on Sunday. We got that monkey off our back with a win against Aberdeen and I just wanted it to continue tonight and I've got to give the players credit.

"It's been a brilliant three months for me, I've loved every single minute of it. I never thought it would ever happen, but I've come in and I've given it my all and so has my staff and to be fair to the players, so have they.

"We've had a few disappointing results as I said, but again, I've demanded from them to come back from poor performances and poor results and they've always done that for me, but in terms of the supporters, a brilliant reception going round there.

"The level of support from the staff inside Ibrox from the training centre and certainly from the fans inside Ibrox and also when I've played away from home, they've always got right behind me, so of course I appreciate that."

Martin Dowden
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter at Ibrox

Image source, SNS

Ferguson would have craved a win in what many expect to be his last home fixture in charge.

It looked like old habits were returning at one stage but they did more than enough to deserve the win.

Ibrox wasn't full - far from it - and that reflects the current consensus of thought. Get this season done and bring on the next chapter.

It was another step towards closure on this desperately disappointing campaign for Rangers, one that will be consigned far from memory.

What happens next is what everyone wants to know.

Ferguson suggested pre-match that news on the managerial position and takeover may arrive in four or five days, or a week. It can't come quick enough for the fans.

Goals 16 and 17 in the Scottish Premiership this season for Cyriel Dessers turned the game on its head for Rangers.

He's now the top scorer in the division...

Image source, SNS

Image source, Getty Images

Rumours have been circulating for months around the managerial situation at Ibrox, ever since Philippe Clement was shown the door.

Would Barry Ferguson's stint as interim boss give him a shot longer-term? Could Jose Mourinho be tempted to Glasgow? Might Steven Gerrard fancy a second stint?

Rangers have now approached Real Madrid assistant Davide Ancelotti, but the Premiership club are yet to establish a leading candidate for the job.

Ancelotti, 35, is the son of Real Madrid manager Carlo, who is leaving the Spanish giants at the end of the season to become Brazil manager.

Given Ancelotti junior's lack of managerial experience, ESPN Spanish football writer Sam Marsden says it would be something of a shot in the dark for Rangers.

"He's obviously been working with his dad for well over 10 years now," Marsden said. "He's got experience at some of the biggest clubs in the world.

"But when you're appointing a young coach and a coach who's not been an outright manager at this career, there's also some element of the unknown as well.

"And I think there's even more an element of unknown about Davide Ancelotti, because, perhaps with no reason, people have questioned whether he is up to the job or whether it's to do with his dad.

"Less so over the years, it's fair to say, but certainly at first. It would be a really interesting appointment from Rangers."

Marsden believes Ancelotti is keen to move away from his father's shadow and establish himself as a manager in his own right.

Having started out as a fitness coach, Ancelotti has risen through the ranks of his father's backroom staff with spells at Paris Saint-Germain, Bayern Munich, Napoli, Everton and now Real Madrid.

"The feeling for a while has been that regardless of what happens with Carlo this summer, Davide has been looking to go on his own at the end of the season," Marsden said.

"I think at his age, he wants to be involved in the day-to-day. The international scene is a very different job.

"Perhaps it gives him that extra push he needs to now spread his wings and prove himself.

"I'm sure he feels he's got something to prove because regardless of how good you are, if you're the son of one of the greatest managers of all time, as the trophies say, you're going to get accused of a certain sort of nepotism."

Alasdair Lamont
BBC Sport Scotland Commentator

As Rangers' on-field season winds down, off-field activity looks like it is ramping up, with speculation over the identity of the club's new manager heightening in recent days.

Rangers' approach for Davide Ancelotti - although the club have dismissed suggestions of a leading candidate - is intriguing.

In one sense, Ancelotti's lack of managerial experience would seem to make him a risky appointment. But he has learned his trade at the feet of an absolute master, working under his father Carlo initially as a fitness coach at PSG and Real Madrid before earning his Uefa A licence and becoming assistant to his dad at Bayern Munich, Napoli and Everton before their return to Real.

In that regard, he arguably represents less of a risk than Steven Gerrard when he made his first foray into management having cut his teeth in the Liverpool youth team.

Ancelotti junior is also a potential target for the likes of Como in his native Italy, but he is reportedly excited by the prospect of being part of a new era at Rangers.

In the meantime Barry Ferguson will guide the side through their remaining two fixtures, starting tonight at home to Dundee United and hoping to pick up where they left off in the second half against Aberdeen.

Ferguson has done his reputation no harm at all in his stint as interim manager and although he has stated he has no interest in managing another club, with a good coaching set-up behind him you could see him making a decent fist of it if he were to change his mind.

But it does appear he will return to his ambassadorial role at Rangers, having steadied an ailing ship.

Andy Burke
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Image source, SNS

Rangers defender John Souttar says Barry Ferguson has done well under difficult circumstances and the players have enjoyed working under the interim manager.

Ferguson has overseen 13 matches in charge, with a record of five wins, four draws and four defeats since replacing Philippe Clement in February on a short-term deal until the end of the season.

"I think it's been a difficult time for him to come in," Souttar said before tonight's visit of Dundee United.

"It's been difficult for anyone to come in the position he came in. But I think the first week he had in the job was really good when we had that spell.

"Obviously there's going to be difficult moments, but I was glad for him at the weekend when we got that win [against Aberdeen], and everyone else, because we needed it, because the form before that wasn't good. But me personally, I've enjoyed working under him.

"What you see is what you get. He's honest and I like that with him because if he doesn't like something, he'll tell you, and if he does like something, he'll say it.

"So everyone knows where they stand and I think everyone's enjoyed working under him."

Image source, SNS

• Rangers have won seven of their past nine league games against Dundee United (D2) since a 1-0 defeat in August 2021 under Steven Gerrard.

• Dundee United have won just one of their past 20 away league games at Rangers (D3 L16), a 3-2 victory in April 2011 under Peter Houston.

• Excluding the curtailed 2019-20 season, Rangers have only lost their final home league game in one of their past 16 seasons (W10 D5), a 2-1 defeat to Aberdeen in 2016-17.

• Dundee United have won seven away league games this season, their most in a top-fight campaign since 2012-13 (also seven), last winning more in 2011-12 (eight). Indeed, only Celtic (39) and Rangers (30) have more away points in the Scottish Premiership this season than Dundee United (26).

• Rangers are unbeaten in their last 27 Scottish Premiership games against newly-promoted sides (W24 D3) since a 1-0 defeat at Livingston in September 2018.

Image source, SNS

Rangers have an unchanged squad with Ianis Hagi, Ridvan Yilmaz and Dujon Sterling out for the season.

Dundee United defender Ross Graham (hamstring) is unlikely to feature again this campaign, while Luca Stephenson (hernia) is absent.

Rangers' prospective new owners would love to sign Vaclav Cerny on a permanent deal when the 27-year-old Czech winger's loan from Wolfsburg ends this summer. (Football Insider), external

Tyrhys Dolan, who was on Celtic's list of options before signing Jota in the January transfer window, is being monitored by the Scottish champions and Rangers as the 23-year-old winger nears the end of his contract with Blackburn Rovers. (Herald - subscription required), external

Read Wednesday's Scottish gossip