Rangers legend Barry Ferguson insists his move to Alloa Athletic from Kelty Hearts was a case of “the right club at the right time” as he prepares to try and guide the Wasps back to the Championship at the first time of asking.
Ferguson surprised many when he decided against renewing his contract with the Fifers, days after guiding them into the SPFL for the first time in their history – before being confirmed as Peter Grant’s replacement at the Recs.
🐝 | Barry Ferguson confirmed as the Alloa Athletic manager.https://t.co/q5WS4BW5lX
— Alloa Athletic FC (@AlloaAthleticFC) May 27, 2021
Alloa finished bottom of the Championship under Peter Grant and Ferguson will have to try and get back to the second tier without Wasps stalwarts Stevie Hetherington and Liam Dick after the pair decided to move on.
While Ferguson will have to add new faces to his squad over the summer, he admitted that the progress made by former Alloa bosses Jim Goodwin and Jack Ross helped make his mind up.
“It’s a club that you look over the years, the managers that have been here… they’ve always been good managers who’ve progressed in the game so once I met the chairman and saw the facilities, it’s the right club at the right time,” Ferguson said.
“My sole aim in the next year is to try and get straight back into the Championship.
“I’ve spoken to one or two [players]. I’ll get round all the boys in the next couple days.
“There’s a good core of players already signed up. The players already signed up are players I rate very highly.
“Hopefully in the next week or two we’ll see players coming in.”
Can Ferguson take the Wasps back to the Championship?
Alloa have, unsurprisingly, been around the foot of the Championship in recent seasons with the Wasps one of two part-time sides in the second tier – but they face a massive challenge to get out of League One.
The likes of Falkirk and Cove Rangers will be desperate to make up for the disappointments of this season, while others like Airdrie and Montrose will fancy another strong push for the playoffs.
Losing Dick and Hetherington will be a massive blow to their hopes but the chance to work with the Ibrox legend is sure to entice some to move to Alloa over the summer.
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