Barry Ferguson won't cough up his Rangers secret as he shows the world exactly who he is with 'nice guys' warning
Ferguson knows the pride of that result could be washed away like the fleeting joy Clement felt when he downed the champions
Barry Ferguson has wasted little time raising standards on the pitch at Ibrox. But now he wants the Rangers faithful to do their bit lifting them off it.
The Rangers caretaker gaffer is fully behind a statement released by the board this week singling out those responsible for the UEFA charge that now leaves the club staring at a potential stand closure.
The Light Blues legions found themselves in the firing line after a banner using the phrase “Defend Europe” - a slogan popular with far-right groups on the continent - appeared in the Union Bears’ section during this month’s Europa League clash with Fenerbahce. European football’s governing body has now warned that any repeat within the next two years will see shutters slammed on the Copland Road end for their next big Euro night.
The Ibrox board has taken decisive action to head off any further Uefa charges by announcing they will ban for life the culprits behind the controversial display. And Ferguson is hoping that strong message sinks in with supporters who have finally been given something to cheer about with the former skipper in the dugout.
He’s masterminded wins over Jose Mourinho’s Turks and Celtic since taking over and doesn’t want to see that resurgence spoiled by punters stepping out of line. He said: “I'm manager of the football team and there's high standards now. If anybody dips below these standards then I'm afraid you're not going to be part of the team.
“In terms of the banners, the club have made a statement I think they've made it clear. My message is I just want the fans to make sure they go and behave because we need them. The most important thing for me is that the fans are going to be inside the stadium supporting the team.
“Since I've been back, the support that I've had from the stands has been brilliant. I appreciate it, the staff appreciates it, the players too. So the most important thing is that we make sure the fans are inside. We don't want to see partial stadium closures or fines. I just want to see my supporters getting right behind my team.”
The 2400 Rangers fans who were inside Celtic Park a fortnight ago were treated to the rarest of sights - a derby win on opposition soil.
The 3-2 triumph over Brendan Rodgers was the club’s first Parkhead triumph in five years but Ferguson knows the pride of that result could be washed away like the fleeting joy Philippe Clement experienced when he downed the champions back in January if his side don’t maintain their levels.
Clement finally cracked his Old Firm duck at the seventh attempt with a 3-0 New Year win over the Hoops at Ibrox, only to come under fresh pressure with draws at Easter Road and Dens Park.
Now as Gers prepare to head back to Dundee on Saturday evening, Ferguson said: “Every game is a challenge.
“But this is a challenge I'm looking forward to because over the season games away from home haven't been to the standard which is expected at Rangers.
“We all know what Dundee did a couple of Sundays ago winning convincingly at Tannadice.
“So I'm under no illusions what type of game it's going to be. The players have been told that today. They'll get told that again tomorrow. And it's a challenge as a Rangers player that you need to go and meet head on.
“It’s not about playing nice, pretty football at times. My players need to learn that. And certainly they're starting to learn that.
“You've seen that in performances over the last two or three weeks that sometimes you need to dig deep to get results. I would love to go and guarantee everybody that it's going to be nice, free-flowing, attractive football. But that's not the way it is in Scotland.”
Ferguson has already gone on the record to accuse the squad he inherited from Clement of being a little too nice for his liking.
But he reckons a mean streak is starting to show after watching them battle to victory at Parkhead.
“I think I've changed that in the last two or three weeks” he said before being asked how he’d managed it?
Grinning, he replied: “That’s my secret! I'm not going to sit here and kid anybody on. I thought we were far too nice.
“And you can't be nice at Rangers. When you step out in that park every single team want to beat you. You need to stand up to that.
Bar the Motherwell game at home, my players are starting to show the standards that are expected.
“There's still a bit of work to go. There's no doubt. We're not sitting here thinking everything's perfect. Far from it.
“But they're certainly heading in the right direction.
“You go across to Celtic Park and everybody's expecting us to get beat, but I had every confidence in them the way that we approached the game.
“And they now really understand what way we have to approach the rest of the games coming up to the end of the season.”
The upturn under the caretaker gaffer has sparked speculation Ferguson is now a contender to take the gig on full-time.
The 47-year-old is refusing to get sucked into that chat.
“You’re trying your best and I respect that but I've got to be honest with you, I'm not even thinking further ahead than the last game of the season,” he insisted.
“Seriously, I've been brought in to do a job and to get results.
“If I look at the period of games I've been in, I think it's been OK, decent.
“It needs to be better and that's my aim over the next couple of months to make sure we consistently start to get results.
“There's no use going and doing what we've done previous to the international break. That 10 days, great getting the club into the last eight, great going to Celtic Park and beating your fiercest rivals but that's in the past now.
“My focus is now going up to Dens Park, where we've struggled the last couple of games, and making sure we get three points.”