Rangers legend Barry Ferguson on his Alloa gamble, Kelty exit and managerial aspirations

Ferguson knew eyebrows would be raised when he started his managerial career with Clyde seven years ago. His appointment at Kelty Hearts was seen as a move from left-field, too.

Now questions will be asked about his decision to leave the newest members of League Two and join a club that are coming off the back of a relegation from the Championship. As Alloa's stock waned last term, Ferguson's rose once again.

Ferguson would go straight in at the highest level as a player as he made his name with Rangers and became a legend at Ibrox. As a manager, he is content to earn a reputation step by step.

"I made a decision when I finished my coaching badges and when I was retiring that I wanted to do it a certain way," Ferguson said as he was unveiled as Peter Grant's successor at the Indodrill Stadium on Wednesday morning.

"A lot of people were looking at me thinking I was crazy but I am my own person, I make my own decisions.

"I wanted to get my hands dirty and I have done that for the last four-and-a-half years. As I said, I have always went and taken [risks].

🐝 | Barry Ferguson confirmed as the Alloa Athletic manager.https://t.co/q5WS4BW5lX

— Alloa Athletic FC (@AlloaAthleticFC) May 27, 2021

"That was a risk going to Kelty. If it never went well, I was back on the golf course hitting balls and talking nonsense on radio!

"This is what I feel, this is the right club at the right time for me. I honestly believe it. It is a risk, a gamble, whatever, but it is a gamble for Alloa as well.

"Both of us are willing to take that. I am sure if I get it right with the recruitment this season that it will be a risk worth taking."

Time will tell if the roll of the dice pays off for Ferguson and chairman Mike Mulraney as Alloa set their sights on a return to the Championship at the first time of asking.

Barry Ferguson

Ferguson could easily have spent his time playing golf or working in the media but he is determined to forge a career for himself as a coach. He could falter at any time, but Alloa is the next step on his journey.

"I want to take risks," Ferguson said. "My handicap has actually gone up in the last couple of weeks. I think that is through nerves!

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"But I like taking risks, I am willing to take a risk. I was like that as a player and as a captain.

"Now as a manager, I don’t want things that are easy, I want to go and… I don’t think I need to prove to myself, but I still think you are always going to have doubters.

"I knew I had to go and take a risk again and this is a risk, there is no doubt about it. After being relegated, there is an expectation from the fans to go straight back up. That is a risk I am willing to take."

The challenge that faces Ferguson next season is a considerable one and the likes of Falkirk, Cove Rangers and Queen's Park will all be vying for the title and the promotion spot that the Wasps must target.

Kelty's Kallum Higginbotham celebrates with manager Barry Ferguson

Last term may have been a failure under Grant's guidance but Alloa have a sound track record - one which includes Paul Hartley, Jack Ross and Jim Goodwin in recent years - of giving up-and-coming managers a platform upon which to succeed and that opportunity has presented itself once again.

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"That was one of the things," Ferguson said. "When they contacted the club on Monday, my contract was running out and I only had a week left of my contract, that was one of the things I thought about.

"I spoke to the chairman on Monday night, came and spent a few hours with him on Tuesday and I knew it was right for me.

Mind this delightful dink from Barry Ferguson, Gers fans? 👀💫#TBT | @RangersFC pic.twitter.com/PJi4waUNRC

— SPFL (@spfl) August 1, 2019

"It is the right time and right place for my career as well. I don’t want to be making too many steps, but I feel this is the right club at the right time.

"I need to come now and try and prove that I can move up a couple of levels. I have got every confidence that I can.

"I have learned in the last two-and-a-half years how to go and build a squad, built a team, build a club.

"That is what I am going to try and do here and I need to try and get them back into the Championship as quickly as possible and that is next season."

That ambition of eyeing promotion is one that Ferguson is well accustomed to by now and he arrives at Alloa on the back of a real success story having guided Kelty into League Two.

The play-off victory over Brechin last weekend ultimately proved to be Ferguson's last act at New Central Park. He has transformed Kelty's future and now he is focusing on his own.

Ferguson said: "I made the decision during the second lockdown [that I would leave] no matter what happened.

"I kept it and never told anybody. If you tell one, there is always a chance that it will get it.

Barry Ferguson

"It took me six or eight weeks to make the decision during the second lockdown but I thought it was best that, no matter what happened and whether we stayed in the Lowland League or got promoted, that I wasn’t going to be renewing my contract.

"It was an emotional Sunday night celebrating. I have done two ribs! It was great.

"It ended and they were disappointed with my decision, but they respected it. So we just move on and that club will move on.

"I have left them in a really good place now. I just thought it was time for a new challenge. That was a gamble and a risk because I might not have got another job."