Head up, face screwed as if he has just consumed the dregs of a septic tank, Barry Ferguson patrols the Rangers midfield like some footballing terrier.
HEAD UP, face screwed as if he has just consumed the dregs of a septic tank, Barry Ferguson patrols the Rangers midfield like some footballing terrier. He yaps more, though. Alternately chiding and encouraging his team-mates, he has become the voice and the presence of the club on the field.
Neat, almost unobtrusive in midfield Ferguson is a player who has polarised opinion. The approach from Newcastle United for his services has raised the possibility, however slight, of the 30-year-old leaving the club he loves. It also provides the opportunity to assess how his stock stands within the Ibrox camp and how it could be used to provide a dividend, either through a transfer fee or in a revised role in midfield at Rangers.
There are four elements to the Bazza question. How they are answered will determine both the future of Rangers and their captain.
THE FINANCE
Ferguson is the highest earning player at Ibrox, with his £30,000 a week adding an annual £1.5m a year to the salary bill. He has 18 months to run on this contract so he represents an investment of substantially more than £2m on present terms. Rangers, who are acutely aware of financial pressures, must make a value judgment. Ferguson is reaching the stage when he will be looking for talks on a new contract. Rangers will not offer him his present terms and may also not give him the length of contract he desires. Ferguson, as shrewd a businessman as he is a passer, has distinct views about his worth. These may not coincide with those of Martin Bain, the Rangers chief executive. Whatever happens to the Newcastle United interest in the short term, Ferguson's long-term future at Ibrox will require some delicate handling.
THE POLITICS
The departure of Ferguson would place added pressure on both Walter Smith and Rangers. Many supporters cite the departure of Alan Hutton in last January's transfer window as the moment the title tide turned against their side. With the gap in the league table at a bridgeable five points, it is not the time to discard the side's best player and captain. The simple politics suggest that Rangers can not be seen to want to lose Ferguson. The deeper politics suggest that there will not be an outbreak of mourning if Ferguson leaves. He has influence in the dressing-room where his acolytes are mostly Scottish players: Allan McGregor, Lee McCulloch, Kris Boyd and Kirk Broadfoot. But the foreign players regard him differently. Some are indifferent. Others regard his outbursts with disdain.
Ferguson is, though, a powerful figure. He was, ultimately, the catalyst in the departure of Paul Le Guen. The Frenchman believes one of his biggest mistakes at Ibrox was not to curb Ferguson's influence earlier. When the battle lines were finally drawn, Le Guen was in a weak position. It was no surprise when David Murray decided it was the manager and not the captain who had to go.
Walter Smith quickly brought Ferguson onside, restoring the captaincy and speaking highly of him in public. However, Smith has never been one to bow to anyone. Well, apart from Ethel.
However, there have been suggestions that Ferguson's inability to follow tactical instructions have caused some angst. Which brings us to . . .
THE TACTICS
It is a chilly February night and Rangers face Panathinaikos at Ibrox in the UEFA Cup. There has been speculation that Smith intends to play Ferguson off a front man in the shape of Lee McCulloch. Yet after a minute, Rangers are awarded a free kick for offside against the Greeks on the edge of the 18-yard box. Ferguson retreats to take it. So he must be playing deep then.
Minutes later he tries to latch on to a McCulloch head flick. So he is playing off the front man, then.
He then runs to take a shy. So he is just playing, then.
Ferguson's role at Rangers is almost impossible to categorise. Perhaps, the best expression is "main man". But his position must be defined and he must hold to it. Increasingly, there is a belief that Smith can make the most of his resources by playing five in midfield. There are two excellent options for Ferguson if the manager opts for this strategy. Ferguson could play in the holding role where his ability to retain possession and initiate attacks would be central to the gameplan. The Scotland captain, too, could play off a front man as the most forward midfield player. Ferguson is more than capable of producing the telling pass which brings us to . . .
THE PLAYER
Ferguson divides opinion. There are those who insist he does not produce a glut of forward passes and that his goal threat has become non-existent. However, Ferguson is still a player of immense quality. There were cries of frustration directed at him from the stands at the recent Old Firm match. He was also chided in the press for a disappointing performance. Yet the two best passes of the match were made by the Rangers captain. Boyd and Kenny Miller should have scored from beautiful through balls in the second half. If they had, the Rangers captain would have been hailed as the player who produced the telling moments of genius in match that was generally bereft of craft.
Ferguson was thus let down by his team-mates. But he owes them something, too. Ferguson must become more disciplined and allow his colleagues to flourish. Pedro Mendes and Steve Davis have the capacity to operate in central midfield with Ferguson behind them or just in front. But the captain must follow orders. This is not his most obvious quality but it is one he must cultivate.
Rangers are in the midst of change. But, in Smith's words, there is no margin for error. The team must evolve while still being successful. Ferguson can be central to that ambition but he must accept that he can not do everything.
THE PERSON
So what would Bazza do if Newcastle came calling? He has no need of money in the ordinary sense. Any Rangers attempt to diminish his wages in his next contract offer would damage Ferguson's pride rather than his bulging wallet. He has invested solidly and has a substantial property portfolio. But he would be reluctant to leave Rangers. He loves playing for the club and being captain.
However, he will be watching developments with interest, particularly how Smith deals with the increasing speculation. Any hint that he may be surplus to requirements or that there is "an offer too good to refuse" and Ferguson will make his play. He will then have two options. The first will be to mobilise his support in the press. The second would be to accept a move with public good grace.
Ferguson is aware, particularly at 30, that all careers at big clubs come to an end. But he is smart enough to engineer his departure to his personal benefit. And he is powerful enough to delay the exit from Ibrox for some years yet.
FACTFILE
Born February 22, 1978
Clubs Rangers, Blackburn Rvrs
Honours SPL winner 1999, 2000, 2003, 2005; Scottish Cup winner 2000, 2002, 2003, 2008; league cup winner 1999, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2008
Great year Captained Rangers to the treble in 2003, scoring 18 goals in 48 games from midfield
Bad year 2004 at Blackburn, when a knee injury restricted both his appearances and his ability to impress
Bad Ne'erday Stripped of Rangers captaincy in 2007 when Paul Le Guen, the then Rangers manager, claimed his captain was a subversive element
International career Captain of the side. 44 caps, three goals
