Latest news with #BillyDodds
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."
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."
BBC News
20-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Did 'players fail Ferguson' or was he 'not manager material'?
Following the confirmation that Barry Ferguson is leaving Rangers, we asked for your views on his brief what some of you said:John: Ferguson was put in a difficult position and did well with what he had to play with. Unfortunately we all know this squad just isn't good enough. Although he's leaving the manager's role, I hope they make some space for him in a coaching capacity as he has a lot to offer and is a potential Gers manager in the Lots of people are saying Ferguson did well with the tools he had, which I agree with, but so did Philippe Clement. They had the same set of players and got the same inconsistent play and results. The team is good at counter-attacking but not good at trying to break down a low block. That is the conundrum for the new manager, to be able to do Ferguson plugged the holes in a sinking ship, but that's all. His press conferences were both refreshing and alarming when he kept saying "my team" and seemed to be a "me" instead of "we". He also refused to give fringe players a try and was more interested in looking good himself with mediocre wins than trying out players for next season. I'm glad he didn't get the job I thought Barry, Neil McCann, Billy Dodds and Allan McGregor did a decent job given the tools he had to work with. These players in a number of cases have been responsible for a number of managers losing their jobs. The highlights were Fenerbahce away and the penalties at Ibrox and the win at Parkhead. I felt Barry and the boys answered the call from Rangers in difficult circumstances and showed what the club means to each of them. Alan: Not manager material at such a big club but room for improvement, could be a good The right decision in the end. Ferguson's chances of getting the job permanently were already slim. He didn't get a reaction out of the players who served up the same dross under Clement. His time as manager will be forgotten about I feel for Barry. He wanted the job so badly and was let down so many times by a group of players who have been inconsistent all season. Barry didn't fail, the players did. He showed enough in his gameplan and team selections, plus the ability to change things during a game, to convince me at least he could have done the job permanently. However, the decision has been made and I will get behind the new manager. I personally would have Stevie Gerrard or Gio van Bronckhorst back.
Times
18-05-2025
- Sport
- Times
Barry Ferguson and his staff depart Rangers
Barry Ferguson's hopes of staying at Rangers as permanent manager have been dashed after it was revealed that he had left Ibrox following the final game of the season, a 2-2 draw with Hibernian. The former club captain was handed the reins for the remainder of the campaign in the wake of Philippe Clement's sacking back in February, and right up until his post-match press conference at Easter Road, he was insistent that he still wished to be considered for the role full-time. However, some 24 hours after that game brought down the curtain on another largely disappointing season for the Govan outfit, it was confirmed that Ferguson had left the club alongside his assistants Neil McCann, Billy Dodds and Allan McGregor. The 47-year-old former
