Latest news with #BarryFerguson
Yahoo
06-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Dodds 'refreshed' for new challenge after Rangers
Billy Dodds is "refreshed and ready to go again if given the opportunity" after exiting Rangers at the end of the season as part of Barry Ferguson's backroom team. Ferguson had Dodds and Neil McCann as assistants after taking over as interim head coach in February following Philippe Clement's sacked. Advertisement The incoming US-based consortium decided to replace Ferguson as head coach with Russell Martin, but Dodds believes they "made a difference" and "the big tanker was slowly turning" despite finishing 17 points behind Celtic. Asked what it was like to have three former Rangers players with previous experience of managing clubs working together, Dodds told BBC Radio Scotland's Sportsound: "Barry was the front man, the bigger name. "He would come in an odd time, but Barry was happy for us to shell out the training and make sure everything is ready. "I was in there for seven o'clock every morning to make sure everything was spot on. Advertisement "I just wanted it to be on the money because I know they are elite players and they want it professional. We were on it from the start and I made sure of that. "I don't think we could have done any more in those three months, whether it was tactical information to the players, the analysts doing all the set pieces and all the bits of strengths and weaknesses of the other teams." Dodds believes there was a limit to what they could achieve as some players "lacked the mindset" to play for Rangers. "Just delighted that we got the opportunity in the first place," he added. "It is a brilliant place to work, facilities to die for, you've got to be happy going to work there and I certainly was for three months. "When we left, they were thriving and I think genuinely the boys enjoyed it and certainly myself, Barry and Neil enjoyed the experience."
BBC News
06-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Dodds 'refreshed' for new challenge after Rangers
Billy Dodds is "refreshed and ready to go again if given the opportunity" after exiting Rangers at the end of the season as part of Barry Ferguson's backroom had Dodds and Neil McCann as assistants after taking over as interim head coach in February following Philippe Clement's incoming US-based consortium decided to replace Ferguson as head coach with Russell Martin, but Dodds believes they "made a difference" and "the big tanker was slowly turning" despite finishing 17 points behind what it was like to have three former Rangers players with previous experience of managing clubs working together, Dodds told BBC Radio Scotland's Sportsound: "Barry was the front man, the bigger name."He would come in an odd time, but Barry was happy for us to shell out the training and make sure everything is ready."I was in there for seven o'clock every morning to make sure everything was spot on."I just wanted it to be on the money because I know they are elite players and they want it professional. We were on it from the start and I made sure of that."I don't think we could have done any more in those three months, whether it was tactical information to the players, the analysts doing all the set pieces and all the bits of strengths and weaknesses of the other teams."Dodds believes there was a limit to what they could achieve as some players "lacked the mindset" to play for Rangers."Just delighted that we got the opportunity in the first place," he added. "It is a brilliant place to work, facilities to die for, you've got to be happy going to work there and I certainly was for three months."When we left, they were thriving and I think genuinely the boys enjoyed it and certainly myself, Barry and Neil enjoyed the experience."
Daily Record
05-07-2025
- Sport
- Daily Record
Billy Dodds claims most Rangers stars are 'weak' as Barry Ferguson era insider fires brutal parting shot
The ex Ibrox frontman wasn't holding back on his thoughts of the playing squad during his four month spell working alongside Barry Ferguson last season Billy Dodds has fired a brutal parting shot at Rangers by claiming that 70 per cent of the squad last season were 'weak' and didn't deserve to be at the club. The Ibrox goal hero - who netted 34 times in 84 matches for the Light Blues between 1999 and 2003 - returned to Govan back in February as part of interim boss and former teammate Barry Ferguson 's backroom team in the wake of Philippe Clement 's sacking. Despite leading Gers to the quarter-finals of the Europa League and a 3-2 Old Firm victory against Celtic on away soil, Ferguson's tenure was overshadowed by disappointing league defeats to Motherwell and Hibernian as well as a succession of dropped points in draws with Aberdeen and St Mirren that ultimately saw Brendan Rodgers' side on the other side of the city run away with the Premiership title with a 17-point margin. Along with fellow backroom staff members Allan McGregor and Neil McCann, Dodds was then removed from his role when it was confirmed that Ferguson would not be taking the team forward into next season. A huge sea of change at Ibrox has seen Andrew Cavenagh and 49ers Enterprises complete their takeover of the club and install Russell Martin as their new manager. The former Southampton boss has been busy overhauling his squad with five signings arriving through the doors at Auchenhowie and the work doesn't stop there with more expected imminently. A raft of players will also be moved on in the opposite direction with the likes of Robin Propper, Ross McCausland and Rabbi Matondo already linked with clubs elsewhere. And while he wouldn't name any players specifically, Dodds has suggested that a big turnover of players was needed this summer by claiming that the majority of players who he worked with in the second half of last season did not have the mentality required to be at Rangers. Asked on an appearance on Sportsound on Saturday about the biggest problem facing the underperforming stars last season, he replied: "Mentality. "Right away I was like 'there's a few weak ones'. I said to you off-air, when you go to a club, everybody gets recruitment wrong. "You tend to find that 30 per cent are not probably the right players for the club and 70 per cent are, and that 70 per cent pulls the 30 per cent along. "But at Rangers it was probably the opposite with a 30-70 swing the other way, where the 30 per cent were good enough and were trying to pull the 70 per cent with them, and it just wasn't happening. "You've got to be consistent when you're at Rangers, even if you are playing poorly, still win the game. "And they had a squad there that probably wasn't mentally strong enough to put a consistent run of games winning or not losing together for a long period of time. They kept letting themselves down on the odd occasion in between good results. "The mixture was some good enough but not enough percentage that you could have built your team around, some who were tidy players but probably just not quite level of Rangers that had the mentality to win when games were ugly and some also on top of that who probably shouldn't have been at the club, to be honest. "I am not going to name names as that doesn't do anybody any favours but I think the results proved that. Too many players that you could kind of see going into their shell. "I know it's a phrase that's thrown around in football and you could see there's no response, whether it's in the eyes, or the brain. "You could see that they're just done today and that they just can't handle going behind."
BBC News
05-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Dodds lifts lid on Rangers stint under Ferguson
Billy Dodds was part of the Rangers legends dream team chosen to revitalise the Ibrox side after Philippe Clement was sacked in January with his side 13 points behind Celtic in the Scottish Barry Ferguson as head coach, and Dodds and Neil McCann as assistants, Rangers still finished 17 points adrift in second nevertheless impressed in Europe, reaching the Europa League quarter-finals, but that was not enough for Ferguson and his team to be given the job permanently by the incoming US-based his first interview since departing Ibrox, former Rangers striker Dodds gives an insight into the current side's weaknesses and strengths - and what lies ahead for new team boss Russell Martin. 'Big tanker was slowly turning under Ferguson' Dodds believes Ferguson's staff "would have had to nail every result" to be given the job permanently. He revealed that "right up to the last moment", when they drew 2-2 away to Hibernian, they were unclear about their futures."Barry had the interview during the week and on the Sunday or Monday morning Barry phoned to give us the news that he wasn't getting the job," Dodds revealed."It was disappointing, because I think we certainly brought something to Rangers on the training ground - the big tanker was slowly turning," he said."We went in and it was really flat, but when we left, they were thriving."Dodds did not wish to speculate on what had caused the atmosphere to be low when they he recalled that chief executive Patrick Stewart and chairman Fraser Thornton said they had "invigorated" the training ground within a couple of days."I was like 'what'? We've given two of the most basic training sessions, but people were speaking again," he added."There were things that were not quite right at the training ground. Staff at the training ground had to be better at their job." 'Too many players lacked mental strength' Despite the improved atmosphere, Dodds believes the "mentality" of some Rangers players meant they were "so vulnerable" and unable to handle adversity."Right away, I thought there were a few weak ones," he revealed. "Good boys, good players, but some of them lacked the mindset."When you go to a club, you tend to find that 30% of signings are not right and 70% are, and that 70% pulls the 30 along. But at Rangers it was probably the opposite."Too many players you could see going into their shell. You could see there was no response either in their eyes or in their brain - they couldn't handle going behind."Some who were tidy players who were probably not quite the level of Rangers and never had the right mental strength to win games that were ugly. "Some probably shouldn't have been at the club. The results proved that." 'I wouldn't pay £15m for Igamane' Striker Hamza Igamane has beenj linked with a £15m summer move to who admits the Moroccan's lack of English made coaching him difficult, thinks that "is good money" for a 22-year-old who arrived from AS FAR in his homeland in July 2024."He's got so much talent, but he's got to do more for the team. He has a bit to learn," he said."If you are buying someone for £1m or £2m and people are offering you that sort of money, you've got to sell. I would probably pay a few million, but I don't know if I would go as high as £15m." 'Sponge' Dessers wants to learn Cyriel Dessers is another striker who has been tipped for a summer a pundit, Dodds had been one of those who thought the striker needed to be more clinical and, as his coach, encouraged the Nigeria international to take fewer touches before striking for goal."The big man is brilliant, a gentleman," he said. "He is a sponge and wants to learn. "If you look at his physique, you would think he would like holding the ball up. He hated it. He wanted to run in behind all the time."He will get a move probably. It will take 29 goals out the team and that's got to be replaced." Midfield trio impress and progress Dodds also had praise for central midfielders Nico Raskin, Mohamed Diomande and Connor revealed that he, McCann and Ferguson had to work hard to turn Belgian international Raskin into a highly effective box-to-box midfielder as "he wanted to sit as a six". Dodds also did not realise how good Diomande was until he started to work with the 23-year-old."An absolute dog of war," he said. "Technically quite good - not brilliant, but decent - and just an all-round good player."Meanwhile, Dodds thinks "the penny has dropped" for recent Scotland cap Barron, who he reckoned was technically good but "defensively had a bit to learn". 'Versatile' Tavernier facing 'fierce' competition Dodds thinks the competition for a place in Rangers' defence "is going to be fierce" for captain James Tavernier, especially with the arrival of fellow right-back Max Aarons on loan from he was "amazed" at how Tavernier "was willing to learn" at the age of 33 and was surprised when the Englishman said nobody had previously sat him down and told him he had to improve defensively."He was so receptive - he is so versatile and we played him at centre-half in some games," Dodds pointed out. Butland has 'powers of recovery' Ferguson dropped Jack Butland after the England-capped goalkeeper suffered a loss of form and Dodds said that, while the 32-year-old was hurt, he understood."He has the powers of recovery - he is a top goallie," he said. "We put him back in for the last couple of games of the season and he was excellent."However, Dodds also told Liam Kelly that he was no longer purely a back-up after performing well in Butland's place. 'What a place to be' if Martin gets it right What now for Rangers and Martin?Dodds says the arrival of a couple of centre-backs, and the possibility of another, was an indication of where Rangers were weak last the addition of midfielders suggests there could be some players leaving Ibrox, while at least one striker and a pacey wide player are the pointed out that, when opponents sat deep, "maybe there wasn't enough creativity, especially in domestic games", so he could understand why Rangers hae signed the Joe Rothwell from thought it was the kind of "resilience and mental strength" from British or Scottish players that he, Ferguson and McCann would have liked to introduce themselves this thinks there have been "too many changes at Rangers", from new chairmen, directors, chief executives and team managers in recent years."I just hope they get a bit of stability now," he said. "If they get all that, they would not be too far away. "If Russell Martin gets this going and gets the right recruitment and they start winning games, what a place to be."
Glasgow Times
05-07-2025
- Sport
- Glasgow Times
Ex-Rangers coach: Hamza Igamane not worth £15m asking price
The former Ibrox striker was on the coaching staff at the end of the campaign as Barry Ferguson assembled a trusted group. Igamane came up with some big moments, including the late winner against Celtic, but also had poor games and spells out of the team. He has shown undoubted talent and that means other clubs are interested - especially Lille who are hoping to land him. However, an update from France today suggested the £15m asking price may prompt them to look elsewhere. And Dodds would agree that price is a big steep. Read more: "I would probably pay a few million but I don't know if I'd go as high as £15million to be honest with you," he said, speaking on BBC Sportsound. "He's got so much raw talent and he's strong and can do things. When he's older, he'll maybe learn how to play for the team more but a great lad. "He's still got a lot to learn. "That French league might help him with his technical attributes. He can handle the physical side up here but he needs to try and do more for the team. "That will help him long-term and help him move on again for even more money. I think (£15m) is good money for Igamane."
