Ferguson axed as captain, Mcgregor dropped too.

Rangers have stripped Barry Ferguson of the captaincy and dropped the midfielder and keeper Allan McGregor after breaching Scotland discipline.

The pair were sent home from training on Friday and will not face Falkirk.

Rangers manager Walter Smith said he decided to take action after V-signs made by the players while sitting on the bench against Iceland on Wednesday.

They had been dropped by Scotland boss George Burley after a drinking session after Saturday’s defeat by Netherlands.

Now both men have been ordered by Smith to report to Rangers’ training ground at Murray Park on Friday for talks with the club’s chief executive, Martin Bain.

A further statement will then be issued by the club, but there are question marks over the longer-term future of the pair, who have been suspended by Smith for two weeks.

The day after Scotland’s 2-1 win over Iceland, Scottish Football Association chief executive Gordon Smith and manager George Burley suggested that the matter was now closed.

However, SFA president George Peat has since indicated that he wants a further investigation of the events, with other players having been involved in the drinking incident.

He has demanded that Smith and Burley file a report on the incidents to the parent body’s board meeting on Thursday.

And Rangers manager Walter Smith has taken his own action while explaining that it was not so much the drinking controversy that had led to him taking action.

“We were unhappy about that situation, but that was something for George to act on,” said Smith, who has chosen veteran defender David Weir to captain the side until the end of the season.

“The more disappointing aspect for us was the subsequent action on the bench on Wednesday night.

“From the club’s point of view, that was not a good image to project.”

Smith’s side are chasing arch-rivals and Glasgow neighbours Celtic in the race for the title, with Falkirk their next opponents in the Scottish Premier League on Sunday.

“It’s not something we would have wanted at this time, but the timing was not in our control,” said the manager, who thought the players had embarrassed themselves by their actions.

“We just have to react to the circumstances and, regrettably, it has happened at this time.

“Life goes on. We have to go on without the lads.”

Rangers Supporters’ Trust spokesman David Edgar backed the club’s action while admitting that some fans had sympathy for the players.

“Most people I have spoken to have backed the manager as they have let their club and their country down,” he said.

“The gestures were so childish and immature it beggars belief that the captain of Rangers and Scotland thought it was a good idea.

“We need to eradicate this culture of drinking among footballers.”

Ferguson was previously stripped of the Rangers captaincy in 2007 while the team was managed by Frenchman Paul Le Guen but reinstated by Smith.

Kris Boyd and Barry Ferguson = 6m

RANGERS will sell both captain Barry Ferguson and top scorer Kris Boyd this month – if they can rake in £6million for the pair.

Boyd is almost certain to be a Birmingham player by the end of the week despite Gers booting out a bid of £3m last night from St Andrew’s.

The Ibrox club want £3.5m for the 20-goal hitman – 2.5m up front and the rest if City reach the Premiership.

Ferguson can join him at the exit door if anyone meets Rangers’ £2.5m valuation and Newcastle boss Joe Kinnear has already gone public with his interest.

Record Sport can reveal Ibrox boss Walter Smith and chairman David Murray have held an emergency summit to draw up a transfer window strategy after being alerted to interest in two of their most prominent players. Rangers last night confirmed Birmingham had declared their intent and Murray revealed he was willing to do business.

He said: “Birmingham have made an enquiry. We talked about money but we haven’t agreed a fee and no business will be done today.

“We rejected a bid of around £3m but if they improve it, we’ll allow them to speak to Kris.”

Smith and Murray have agreed to offload both Ferguson and Boyd this transfer window – but only if the price is right.

While five other players – Allan McGregor, Madjid Bougherra, Pedro Mendes, Steve Davis and Kevin Thomson – have been categorised as untouchable, Ferguson and Boyd will be allowed to move on before the market shuts at the end of the month.

With Smith’s side currently trailing Celtic by five points this is a hugely risky strategy and one which is certain to anger many of the club’s supporters.

But, following the financial disaster caused by crashing out of the Champions League qualifiers to Kaunas, Murray has demanded Smith trims his squad.

In fact, the manager would use some of the money raised to bolster his defence by securing a new centre-half, although top target Tonel may have been priced out of a move by Sporting Lisbon, who now want £4m for the Portuguese international.

Birmingham have so far fallen short of matching Murray’s demands for Boyd and are also attempting to piece together a three-year payment package.

Murray, though, wants the bulk of the fee paid up front and will also insist on an additional bonus payment of up to £1m if Boyd helps McLeish win promotion and bag a £30m ticket to the Premiership.

That should bring the total sum up to around the £3.5m mark – while Rangers would be happy to accept around £1m less for Ferguson who turns 31 next month.

Newcastle’s interest in the Ibrox skipper is, however, less straightforward given that the Geordies have so far failed to make any official contact with Rangers, despite Kinnear’s weekend claims of an official enquiry being made.

The manager’s somewhat bizarre approach has baffled both Smith and Murray who suspect third-party involvement behind the scenes.

But they believe a bid could be tabled and will do business if Newcastle reach their £2.5m valuation of the Scotland skipper.

Ferguson – by far the biggest earner on Smith’s wage bill – has 18 months left on his current £30,000-a-week Ibrox contract and has been made aware that he will not be given the same financial package should he chose to extend his deal.

But the player could expect to rake in substantially more money on Tyneside and would also hope to sign at least a three-year deal.

The Gers boss also believes he can absorb the loss of Boyd and Ferguson by getting more from players such as Kyle Lafferty, Maurice Edu, Nacho Novo, Andrius Velicka and Stevie Naismith who have been on the fringes of his first team this season.

Meanwhile, Alan Gow has agreed terms on a £250,000 switch to Wolves and should complete his move in the next 24 hours.

Boyd urges Barry to stay

HIGHLAND hero Kris Boyd does not believe Barry Ferguson will be tempted on a return to the Premiership after Newcastle declared a public interest in the Rangers skipper. 

Boyd, who scored twice in yesterday’s 3-0 win at Inverness, feels Ferguson would prefer to remain at Rangers,

Boyd said: “We know in this market everyone has his price and whatever happens happens – that’s the way football is

“But I’m sure Barry wants to stay here and play his football with Rangers.

“He has left the club once before and didn’t particularly enjoy his time down south. Now he’s enjoying it and he’s back to being the player he once was.

“We don’t want to lose him and I’m sure the manager won’t want to lose him either because he’s such a huge influence on the team.”

Walter Smith was disappointed with Joe Kinnear’s public comments about Ferguson and Newcastle have also been linked with a move for Madjid Bougherra.

However, Boyd insists that speculation did not affect Rangers in a poor first half in the Highlands.

He said: “Inverness made it difficult for us in the first half and all credit to them for doing so. They’ve been struggling recently but still came out and had a go. When we got in at half time we had a chat and basically knew we had to do better.

“The message at the break was that a few of us would be coming off if we didn’t improve in the first 15 minutes after the break. And it was a great goal from Pedro that set us up to go on and win.”

Boyd’s double takes him to 20 goals for the season which has thrilled him but he knows that continuing to cut into Celtic’s SPL lead is the key.

He said: “I’m obviously delighted with the number of goals I’ve scored so far but the bottom line is we are still five points behind Celtic which isn’t good.

“We need to go again when the league resumes after the Scottish Cup and get ourselves back within touching distance of Celtic.

“I was pleased with my goals but at the other end Allan McGregor was just as important. He made world-class saves and the one just prior to our second goal proved how important he is to our team.”

Thomson to fight for place

 

Kevin Thomson believes the return of skipper Barry Ferguson has every Rangers midfielder looking over his shoulder.

Ferguson has recovered from five months out following ankle surgery and is set to return to the starting line-up after making two substitute appearances.

Summer signings Steve Davis and Pedro Mendes have settled in well in Ferguson’s absence while Thomson has also contributed, scoring the last-gasp leveller in Tuesday’s 3-3 draw with Dundee United.

But they must fight it out for a starting berth now that Ferguson has returned to full fitness.

“It’s a big club and there is always competition for places,” he said.

“It’s been well-documented that the skipper is back now and he is pushing for a game.

On their toes

“It’s not just myself, it’s up to every player to stay on their toes and to work hard and stay in the team.”

Thomson’s equaliser against Dundee United ensured Rangers stretched their unbeaten home run in the SPL to 13 months, although the 3-3 draw was not enough for the Gers to go level with Celtic at the top of the table.

“We have a great record here and we would like to keep that going,” said Thomson.

“If we are going to win the title, we have to win our home games so it certainly feels like two points dropped.

 

Dropped points

“It was the same when I was at Hibs, every team who comes up against the Old Firm wants to do their best.

“It’s always a cup final, especially at Ibrox in front of 50,000. If you don’t want to come here and perform, then you shouldn’t be playing football.

“They came and had a go and it’s up to us to up our game and make sure that we beat these teams.”

Ferguson could be back for Caley

 

Rangers boss Walter Smith has pencilled in Barry Ferguson for a return to the first-team for the weekend clash with Inverness.

Ferguson has been out of action since the summer after undergoing surgery on his troublesome ankle problem.

The Gers skipper came through a reserve team outing last week unscathed and he is set for another run-out for the second string this week against Dundee United.

Smith has revealed Ferguson will be in his plans to face Inverness at Ibrox next weekend, if he comes through the reserve clash without any ill-effects.

“Barry will get another game on Wednesday and I’m hopeful that if he gets through that match without any problems, he’ll come back in at the weekend,” Smith told club’s official website.

“I don’t mean that it terms of his injury because that’s okay now. If the after-effects of playing in midweek aren’t too severe, we would look at him coming in on Saturday.

Anxious

“It is natural people are anxious now to get him back. I’ll involve Barry in the pool of players for the Hamilton game but that game might be a bit early for him.

“He will play against United’s reserves and after that, I’d hope he’ll become more gradually involved with the full side.

“Barry played at St Mirren and did all of his training last week then had a recovery day yesterday so we’ll see how he is at training today.

“He is itching to get back playing again but he has an awareness of his injury now, as we do. When he makes his comeback, he’ll be ready for it.”