Barry Ferguson in powerful next Rangers manager vow as he shows self awareness and makes one thing abundantly clear

The former skipper got a surprise call in February when he was asked to replace sacked manager Philippe Clement

Barry Ferguson has finally thrown his hat in the ring to be Rangers boss after insisting he can be a success at Ibrox.

But the Light Blues caretaker gaffer has ruled out kick-starting his coaching career elsewhere after admitting he won’t work for another club.

The former skipper got a surprise call in February when he was asked to replace sacked manager Philippe Clement on an interim basis to the end of the season.

He’s enjoyed a couple of notable wins over Celtic and Fenerbahce but has also had to contend with a string of disappointing domestic results which have left the Hoops on the verge of clinching a fourth successive league crown this weekend.

But having previously dismissed all talk of him taking over full-time, Ferguson is now backing himself to be the man to bring the good times back to Rangers and hopes to prove that to the club’s in-coming American owners in the final five games of the season.

Fergie – setting the agenda as a Record Sport columnist and Gers ambassador before being invited to take the team – said ahead of tomorrow’s trip to St Mirren: “There's a couple of things I can say. If I get the job, I will make my club a better club.

“If I don't get the job I will still support the club. That's the way I'm looking at it.

“I've got five games to go, the final game is on the 17th May, my focus is on this next few weeks.

“There's been a few bumps since I've come in, I knew that was going to be the case, but I wasn't frightened of that, but I know what this club needs.

“I've been through the door now for a couple of months, and I know the changes that are needed.

“But in terms of the best, there's obviously names getting mentioned who have a lot more experience than myself.

“But I'll back myself, I always will back myself.

“I might not be everybody's cup of tea, but I know I can do the job alongside the staff that I've brought in, but we just need to wait and see.”

Ferguson’s previous managerial experience was at lower league level with Clyde, Kelty Hearts and Alloa.

But he has no plans to get back on the job hunt if he is overlooked by the consortium led by Andrew Cavanagh and the San Francisco 49ers.

Asked why, he said: “Because it's my club and I wasn't interested in going back into coaching.

“I got an opportunity I never thought I would get, and I've come in and I've enjoyed every single second of it.

“Some of the results I've not enjoyed, have hurt me. But I’ve come back in ready to face it and as I said, it's been a brilliant few months.

“There's still another few weeks to go and it's not about just coming in here and just enjoying it.

“I enjoy the challenge of it, because it is a big challenge.

“But in terms of in the future, managing elsewhere, no. I had a good life before, I enjoyed my role at Rangers before, and if that's not going to be managing, then hopefully I'll just go back to that and enjoy what I was doing.”

And he’s also ruled out staying on to work under a new boss.

“I know you're trying to get out of me here and if I am going to work with someone else or whatever. I know what I'm going to do, whether that's manage the football club or go back to represent the club in an ambassadorial role,” he said.

Fergie’s future role is still to be decided but he does hope to play a part in shaping the Rangers rebuild when he gets the chance to sit down and talk with newly-appointed sporting director Kevin Thelwell.

He said: “I’ve not spoken with Kev but I will. We’ve not got an exact day, that's going to be scheduled in. But I'll certainly be sitting down and banging head together I suppose.

"When we sit down I'll be honest and I'll be clear. He's an experienced guy, he's been about a lot of clubs, a lot of big clubs as well, so I think it was an appointment that was needed.

“I don't know him personally, but looking at his background it looks to me that it's a very good appointment.

“I want what's best for Rangers Football Club, and you need to be open and honest about that, and that's the way I'm working.”