Rangers Football Club has appointed former captain Barry Ferguson as interim manager until the end of the season, in the wake of Philippe Clement's dismissal just a day after a 2-0 home defeat to St Mirren left the team trailing 13 points behind Celtic in the Scottish Premiership standings. Clement, who had been under pressure due to a series of poor results, was sacked shortly after the disappointing match.

Ferguson, 47, was a key player for Rangers, leading the team to a domestic treble in the 2002-03 season during his two spells as a player. He previously held the role of caretaker manager at Blackpool in 2014 and has managed clubs including Clyde, Kelty Hearts, and Alloa Athletic.

After announcing Ferguson's appointment, Rangers' CEO Patrick Stewart expressed gratitude to Clement for his contributions, stating, "I want to wish Philippe every success in the future. He is a fine man whom I have enjoyed working with in my short time here so far." Stewart also welcomed Ferguson back to the club, acknowledging the challenge ahead.

Under Clement's management, Rangers had reached the last 16 of the Europa League, where they are set to face Fenerbahce next month. However, the team's struggles in domestic competitions, including an elimination from the Scottish Cup by lower-tier Queen's Park and a League Cup final loss to Celtic, contributed to the decision to part ways with the Belgian manager.

Rangers will be looking to rebound under Ferguson's leadership as they aim to close the gap with Celtic in the league. Reuters has reported the situation surrounding the club and the challenges Ferguson will face moving forward.