FORMER Rangers captain Barry Ferguson today backed Lee McCulloch to lead the Light Blues into battle next season.
The departure of skipper Steven Davis last week has left Gers boss Ally McCoist searching for someone to hand the armband to for the new campaign.
McCulloch has pledged his allegiance to his boyhood heroes this summer, insisting he will remain with the club no matter what league they find themselves in.
And Ferguson hopes the 34-year-old's loyalty to the Gers is rewarded by McCoist next season.
"I think Jig is the only one there who could be captain," Ferguson told SportTimes.
"He is the obvious choice for me. He grew up a Rangers man and he knows what the club is all about.
"That decision is a no brainer for me to be honest. He is the type of player that you want to lead your side and the more you have like that the better."
Davis, of course, was not the only player to leave Ibrox last week, with a number of McCoist's first team stars refusing to transfer their contracts over to Charles Green's newco club.
Youngster John Fleck is set to join English League One outfit Coventry after ending his time in Glasgow and Ferguson hopes the switch will signal the start of a new beginning for his former Blackpool team-mate.
He said: "I think that is the best thing for Flecky to be honest.
"He has to move on and get his career back on track because there is no doubt that the wee man has got so much ability.
"The boys at Blackpool realised what potential he has got. It is im-portant for him to move on and play regular football for a year or two."