Rangers legend Barry Ferguson has admitted to being “caught on the hop” by James Tavernier’s sudden announcement that he will leave Ibrox this summer. In a week that has stunned the blue half of Glasgow, the former Triple-Treble captain confessed that while the news left him with mixed emotions, there is one particular narrative surrounding the skipper that “annoys” him.
The Surprising Timing
Tavernier’s decision to call time on his 11-year stay at Ibrox came just days after an interview where he gave no hint of a departure. With only five games remaining in a nail-biting title race, Ferguson admitted the timing was unexpected.
”I’m still not completely sure how I actually feel about it,” Ferguson wrote. “I was a bit surprised that he has chosen to come out with this now when there are just five games to go in the run-in.”
However, Ferguson noted that the announcement sets the stage for a cinematic finale. If Rangers can secure the wins needed to clinch the Scottish Premiership, Tavernier will “bow out as a champion again”—the ultimate tribute to over a decade of service.
Defending the Legacy
The “one thing” that grates on Ferguson? The suggestion that Tavernier’s tenure has been a failure due to a lower trophy count than previous eras.
“It annoys me when people talk about him as some kind of failure,” Ferguson insisted. “He’s been anything but. Rangers as a football club hasn’t been winning anywhere near as much as it should have been, but that’s not been down to just one man. Tav is just the guy who has had to front it up.”
Tavernier leaves behind a staggering record for a defender, having netted over 140 goals and led the club from the Championship back to the pinnacle of Scottish football and a European final.
The Next Captain: A Ferguson Return?
As the search for the next wearer of the armband begins, many fans have looked toward Barry’s nephew, Lewis Ferguson. The Bologna star and Serie A Midfielder of the Year has been heavily linked with a move back to Scotland, but Barry was quick to pour cold water on those flames.
- The Reality Check: Lewis currently has three years left on his contract in Italy.
- The Competition: Elite clubs including Juventus, AC Milan, Inter, and Napoli are reportedly chasing his signature.
- The Missed Opportunity: Barry believes the “ship has long since sailed” for Rangers, suggesting the club missed their window to sign him four or five years ago before his value skyrocketed.
The Final Mission
For James Tavernier, the goal is now singular. Five games stand between him and a legendary exit. Ferguson, like many in the Rangers faithful, hopes the captain can add one last piece of silverware to his collection before the curtain finally falls on a historic Ibrox career.
Will Tavernier go out on top? Or will the pressure of the exit overshadow the title race?
