49ers showered in Rangers transfer praise after four key winter moves as big question over spending answered
A Rangers legend has praised the work his former side did in the transfer market.
Barry Ferguson reckons Rangers chairman Andrew Cavenagh and the 49ers deserve major credit for backing a winter recruitment drive at Ibrox.
Amid their quest for the Premiership title, the club made three permanent signings in the January window in Tochi Chukwuani, Tuur Rommens and Ryan Naderi, while Andreas Skov Olsen has been viewed as an impressive loan capture with option to buy. Rangers defeated Kilmarnock 5-1 in the Premiership midweek to move within three points of leaders Hearts, who they face at Ibrox next weekend, and take on Queen’s Park in the Scottish Cup this Sunday.
Ferguson, a club legend and interim manager for the second half of last season, knows all about the four signings made by Rangers. He senses a question over whether or not head coach Danny Rohl would be backed after last summer’s haul of moves following the arrival of Cavenagh and 49ers Enterprises as owners was there to be answered, believing it’s been answered emphatically.
Barry Ferguson on Rangers transfer window.
He told Go Radio: “Rangers are in a great position. You've got to give the manager credit, you've got to give the players credit also, because they were coming in for a lot of criticism. I think it's been a really positive window as well. I look at the four players that Rangers have brought in, and I know the four players pretty well. They four players have been brought in to play in the starting 11.
“They've not been brought in just as numbers are to sit on the bench. These four have been brought in to play and I think that's what you'll see going forward with the four signings that Rangers have made. As I said to you, look, I do fancy Rangers. For me, it's going to get into the last game or two of the season.
“The owner, Andrew Cavenagh, has put his hand in his pocket. That was a question that was put forward over whether they would back the manager and clearly he's backed the manager with the four signings, three permanent signings.
What deal did Andreas Skov Olsen arrive at Rangers on?
“I know Olsen's a loan with a view to a permanent, but there was a loan fee, a big loan fee involved in that. So he's given the manager what he wanted. Now it's up to the manager to get these guys in the team and start, or not start, they are winning games. But it’s to go and kick on for the final three and a half months of the season.”
Assistant coach Steven Smith said ahead of the Queen’s Park game, looking for revenge after the Championship side stunned them at Ibrox last season in this competition: “It is fresh in the players’ minds and six or seven of them were here and involved in that game, starting or on the bench, last season.
“We won’t treat Queen’s Park lightly, we will treat them with the respect they deserve will prepare properly and the boys will be ready to go on Sunday. Danny has been excellent so far. The results from where we were, to where we are have been good.”