ian1964 10,486 Posted March 24, 2009 Share Posted March 24, 2009 Dick Advocaat is ready to offer Rangers and Scotland captain Barry Ferguson an escape route out of Ibrox and a final career pay day in Russia. The Zenit St Petersburg boss, and former Rangers manager, has confirmed to Sportsmail he remains a huge admirer of the 31-year-old midfielder who will skipper George Burleyââ?¬â?¢s side in the World Cup double-header against Holland and Iceland. Advocaat, who gave Ferguson the Ibrox armband at the tender age of 22, is losing his star player, Ukrainian international Anatoliy Tymoschuk, to Bayern Munich on a free transfer in July, following Andrey Arshavinââ?¬â?¢s departure to Arsenal. And the former Holland boss, who tried to sign Ferguson during the midfielderââ?¬â?¢s turbulent run-in with the then Rangers manager Paul le Guen in January 2007, could look to him again as a replacement. With Ferguson facing a pay cut at the cash-strapped Ibrox club this summer, and already copping flak from disgruntled supporters, Advocaatââ?¬â?¢s words will not be easily dismissed. ââ?¬Ë?I am sure everyone in Scotland knows by now what I think of Barry Ferguson - heââ?¬â?¢s still a top player,ââ?¬â?¢ said Advocaat. ââ?¬Ë?Maybe he needs a fresh challenge elsewhere to give him new motivation. If he has been getting criticism in Scotland, then maybe he he has been at Rangers too long. ââ?¬Ë?If I think I have a place for him here at St Petersburg, then he is the first one I would try to sign.ââ?¬â?¢ Fergusonââ?¬â?¢s Ã?£25,000-per-week contract will have only 12 months to run when the SPL title race is concluded. It is expected he will be offered a significant pay cut by the club should he wish to sign an extension running into his mid-30s. Zenit could easily match his current wages and a couple of years in Russia would bank Ferguson at least Ã?£2million. He has already left Rangers once, when he moved to Blackburn Rovers, and, although he likes family life in Scotland, his career is becoming increasingly marred by personal criticism as Walter Smithââ?¬â?¢s side remain in Celticââ?¬â?¢s shadow. Advocaat added: ââ?¬Ë?We are losing Tymoschuk in a couple of months, when he signs for Bayern Munich. Iââ?¬â?¢ve brought in Russian international Igor Semshov to try to plug the gap. ââ?¬Ë?But if it does not work out well for him and for us, then Barry would be one I would think about, definitely. 'I have always believed he has the ability to play wherever he wants.ââ?¬â?¢ Zenit opened the new Russian League campaign with a draw, followed by a 2-1 victory over Saturn on Sunday. Advocaat, who coached Holland to their 6-0 Amsterdam success over Scotland in November 2003 in the Euro 2004 play-off, will watch this weekendââ?¬â?¢s showdown between his two favourite countries on TV - with Ferguson under particular scrutiny. Meanwhile, Rangers reserve Andrew Little has been called into the full Northern Ireland squad - before he has even kicked a ball for the Ibrox first team. The highly-rated 19-year-old , who can play in defence or attack, has been called up by manager Nigel Worthington for Northern Irelandââ?¬â?¢s World Cup double-header against Poland and Slovenia. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1164299/Ill-sign-Barry-Advocaat-insists-8217-d-Rangers-skipper-Russia.html 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gazza_8 233 Posted March 24, 2009 Share Posted March 24, 2009 I'd be happy for Ferguson to head north to Russia. Maybe Dick will do us another favour and offer Watty a coaching role for billions of pounds a month to persuade him. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnnyk 158 Posted March 24, 2009 Share Posted March 24, 2009 can't see Barry moving to Russia unless he gets megabucks. I doubt he would move his family there either but we can hope 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ian1964 10,486 Posted March 24, 2009 Author Share Posted March 24, 2009 Nice to see Andrew Little getting a call up all the same,well done son 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
CammyF 7,016 Posted March 24, 2009 Share Posted March 24, 2009 So much respected coach Dick Advocaat rates Barry Ferguson yet us mere mortals remain unconvinced.... erm..... Maybe DA thinks that with his coaching ability that he can still get the best out of Ferguson. Wonder if our 'coaches' feel the same? Cammy F 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest adamski Posted March 24, 2009 Share Posted March 24, 2009 there you go Dick 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gazza_8 233 Posted March 24, 2009 Share Posted March 24, 2009 So much respected coach Dick Advocaat rates Barry Ferguson yet us mere mortals remain unconvinced.... erm..... A couple of good performances here and there inbetween a load of stinkers doesn't convince me....... 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gisabeer 409 Posted March 24, 2009 Share Posted March 24, 2009 So much respected coach Dick Advocaat rates Barry Ferguson yet us mere mortals remain unconvinced.... erm..... Maybe DA thinks that with his coaching ability that he can still get the best out of Ferguson. Wonder if our 'coaches' feel the same? Cammy F Take things into perspective, he also signed Flo for a Kings ransom. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
calscot 0 Posted March 24, 2009 Share Posted March 24, 2009 Advocaat is a bit of a strange one, he makes a massive impact in his first couple of years in a job and then his magic wanes at an alarming rate. Zenit were poor in their last season and I can see this one being as bad with him leaving at the end of it. I can't see Barry helping to prevent that. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bluedell 5,366 Posted March 24, 2009 Share Posted March 24, 2009 Take things into perspective, he also signed Flo for a Kings ransom. He signed Flo. Not a bad signing in itself. It was Murray who agreed the price. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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