Inside Barry Ferguson's Rangers return from Blackburn Rovers as Andy Cole confesses 'I wish he stayed longer'

The former Manchester United hero struck up a behind the scenes friendship with the Ibrox icon.

Andy Cole has lined up alongside some of football’s biggest names – but he admits nobody came close to Barry Ferguson in the laughter business.

The Manchester United icon shared a dressing-room with the former Rangers playmaker during a spell at Blackburn Rovers. And he insists they had an immediate chemistry both on and off the pitch. Ferguson joined the Premier League club for a fee of £7.5million in 2003 and was soon appointed captain by boss Graeme Souness. Fergie’s stay at Ewood Park was short lived as he lasted a season and a half.

But Cole had nothing but praise for his favourite Scotsman, praising both his ability to find him with a pass and being able to put a smile on his face. He said: “I played with Barry when he came down south from Rangers to play for Blackburn. I absolutely loved him, he was very funny. He didn’t stay too long but he was a player I loved to be on the pitch with.

“We had a good rapport and he was a top player so I loved playing alongside him. Top man and a top player and I wished we’d had the chance to play together for longer.

“He did well for Blackburn but some of his time there was hampered by injury. He was a top-level player, no doubt about it.

“Barry is a proud Scot and he would bring the dressing-room to life with his jokes and antic. He was a very popular member of the squad.

“I’ve played with plenty of Scottish players but Barry was a big personality and an absolute pleasure to have as a team-mate. He was a very popular figure at the club and that was shown when Graeme made him skipper.”

READ NEXT