Flip flop Ferguson explains how Gio can get ahead of Celtic

Earlier in the week Barry Ferguson was demanding a statement on the future of Giovanni van Bronckhorst remaining in charge at Ibrox.

As a helpful suggestion he added that a real Rainjurz man like Neil McCann would be a good appointment to the next management team, he even admitted that he might also be needing a fresh pay day.

Without the funds to pay off the remaining two and a half years of van Bronckhorst’s contract there has been no big announcement this week.

In less than four weeks Hibs visit Ibrox with Ferguson left with nothing but a rallying call and display of incredible optimism is all that the former Alloa boss can offer to Daily Record readers:

There are still three Old Firm games to come but I’m looking no further than December 15, a home game against Hibs before Aberdeen and Ross County away followed by hosting Motherwell before Celtic at Ibrox on January 2. That period building up to the Old Firm game could become season defining, it can change the mood music at Rangers and that’s where everyone needs to regroup and target.

It’s about trying to be positive, I am being honest and admitting it’s a huge ask to still win the title but you just don’t know as surprises arrive when you least expect them. There are so many negatives flying about the club but if Rangers take maximum points from the four games before meeting Celtic and then get a result against them, the nine point gap becomes six and that’s the way they need to approach things.

Let’s try and be as positive as possible. It’s only a matter of weeks ago that Celtic went to St Mirren and I expected them to win by a few goals only for the Buddies to win the game 2-0. That has to be the mindset going forward, expect the unexpected and be ready to take full advantage. Over a period of a few weeks Rangers have dropped points against Livingston, St Johnstone and St Mirren, that can’t happen if they are to try and haul back Celtic.

Having dropped points in five of their 15 matches to date it is a big ask to expect van Bronckhorst’s side to rattle off four successive wins before hosting the champions on January 2.

Away from home van Bronckhorst’s side have won three out of seven games this season, full points from successive away matches at Aberdeen and Ross County (on December 20 and 23) looks highly unlikely from a group of players that have hit the beach earlier than usual.