Roberts: Rangers 'shambles' is Le Guen's Fault

Graham Roberts claims Paul Le Guen was ill prepared for the challenge of managing Rangers – and insists the Frenchman is responsible for the “shambles” at Ibrox.

However, Roberts, who fell out with boss Graeme Souness and left Rangers after a two-year stint in the 1980s, fears Barry Ferguson will have to leave the club he loves after his row with the former Lyon manager.

The former England international warned: “Once you’ve had a fall-out with a manager it’s very hard to rebuild the trust, and I believe if Paul Le Guen is going to be there and going to be there next year then Barry Ferguson will leave the club.”

Ferguson and his agent John Viola have been attempting to bring a degree of calm to a situation which came to a head on Monday, when Le Guen stripped the Rangers Hall of Fame midfielder of the captaincy and axed him from the team to face Motherwell.

Private discussions have taken place with executive chairman David Murray, a big fan of Ferguson but, according to Le Guen, a man who has been fully supportive of the manager’s decision.

Rangers have climbed above Aberdeen to regain second place in the Bank of Scotland Premier League, but they are 17 points adrift of leaders Celtic after a turbulent campaign which has seen them lose twice to Inverness and suffer a cup defeat against Bell’s First Division side St Johnstone.

Roberts said: “The chairman will always back the manager and the manager will always win. There’s only going to be one loser – Rangers supporters.

“I’ve seen 10 to 12 games this year and Barry has been the most consistent player.

“Paul Le Guen came out with a quote after the game on Monday, (saying) that Rangers will be a lesser side without Barry Ferguson’s skill in the team, and if you have got players of his calibre you can afford to leave out you should be top of the league.

“But Rangers are not top of the league – they’re struggling at the moment.

“I watched the game against St Mirren on Saturday and Rangers were very, very poor.

“Barry came out of that one of the better players, but it’s just a shambles at the moment.

“Paul Le Guen, I think, has underestimated Scottish football.

“He thought he could come here and thought he could win the league quite comfortably. He never really watched Rangers last year and the players he has brought in are mediocre players, and they’re not good enough to play for Rangers.”

Speaking on Sky Sports News, Roberts recalled his own exit from Ibrox.

He left in 1988, after falling out with Souness over an Aberdeen goal against Rangers.

“I had this situation with Graeme Souness a few years ago and there was only going to be one winner,” said Roberts. “The chairman will always back the manager.”

Ferguson has kept his counsel since Le Guen cast doubt on his future.

He is contracted to the club until 2010, but scathing criticism from Le Guen, who accused Ferguson of attempting to exert undue influence on team-mates, cast doubt on whether the 28-year-old would see out that deal.

Roberts stated: “Barry Ferguson is Rangers through his blood, and when Barry gets some decent players to play with him Barry will be a much better player anyway.”