Neil McCann has temporarily stepped away from his punditry duties to take on a hands-on role at Rangers.
The former Gers winger was selected by Barry Ferguson to be part of his interim coaching staff, alongside Billy Dodds and Allan McGregor. This trio brings a wealth of experience, boasting over 40 trophies, 1,180 appearances, and 120 goals between them, along with solid coaching credentials.
Ferguson explained that he wanted strong personalities in the dressing room to lift the squad, and their impact was evident as Rangers overturned a 2-0 deficit against Kilmarnock to win 4-2.
McCann, who has been a regular pundit for BBC and Sky Sports, has now stepped into a more demanding role on the sidelines, leaving the comfort of the studio behind.
McCann’s Unexpected Dugout Role
Interestingly, McCann was originally scheduled to be part of Sky Sports’ commentary team for the match at Rugby Park. Instead, he found himself in the Rangers dugout on a tense night, watching the team struggle in the first half before staging a comeback.
His absence meant Chris Sutton stepped in alongside Ian Crocker for the broadcast. During the match, Crocker remarked, “Neil McCann, who was due to be alongside me tonight, is in the dugout. Anything to get out of that…” to which Sutton joked, “I was going to ask him the Rangers team…”
Intensity in Training
The new coaching team has already made its mark in training sessions. Footage shows Dodds emphasizing speed and urgency while McCann actively participates, with Ferguson taking a more supervisory role.
Supporters will welcome the change, especially given the slow and uninspiring performances seen in some recent matches. The difference was already apparent in Rangers’ second-half performance against Kilmarnock.
