THEY say time is a healer but Ian Ferguson is still baffled by the incredible lengths the St Mirren board went to in an attempt to prevent him signing for Rangers.

The Paisley directors tried to force a transfer to England and at one stage Ferguson was en route to meet his namesake Alex at Old Trafford who wanted to put him in a Manchester United midfield beside Gordon Strachan, Bryan Robson and Jesper Olsen.

The then 20-year-old midfielder, who had won the Scottish Cup for St Mirren eight months earlier, demanded the car taking him turn around, and finally he realised his dream when, 30 years ago today, he walked into Ibrox to become one of the most decorated players in Scottish football history.

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Reflecting on that time from his home in Australia, Ferguson said:

“There is no doubt that St Mirren made it very difficult for me and that was the most frustrating thing,

“I knew that Rangers were really keen on me and I wanted to go there.

“Graeme Souness had revolutionised the club and I wanted to be part of his plans.

“He had brought in England’s captain and goalkeeper in Terry Butcher and Chris Woods and it really was a game-changer.

“It was an open secret that Rangers wanted me and I became more and more annoyed when the board at Love Street wouldn’t let me go.

“I don’t think there is any doubt that if affected me. How was I supposed to block it out of my mind? It was impossible.

“St Mirren were trying to push me to move to an English club as there were a number in the market because they didn’t want to sell to Rangers.

“It actually got the stage where I was so sick and fed up with it all that I agreed to talk to one of them – Manchester United.

“Of course, Alex Ferguson had just taken over at Old Trafford the previous season and he was looking to rebuild what was a massive club.

“I was flattered that he was interested. Reluctantly, I got in a car that was going to take me for talks. However, we were not even halfway there when I told the driver to stop and turn around.

“I couldn’t go through with it. My heart was set on Rangers and I was determined that I was going to make it happen.”

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Ferguson is one of only three players to have all nine medals from the fantastic championship-winning run – Ally McCoist and Richard Gough are the others – and in all the Glaswegian won 18 major honours at Rangers. 

He has been in Australia for 15 years, where he has been a successful player and coach working for Central Coast Mariners, North Queensland Fury, Perth Glory and latterly Northern Fury.

Having turned 50 this year and having been in the game since signing for Clyde as a youngster, he’s taking a well-earned break and helping his wife Suzanne run their convenience store business in Townsville, Queensland.

However, he remains completely in tune with what’s happening at Ibrox and is backing boss Graeme Murty.

He said: “I still watch the Rangers games. I’ll always be a supporter.

“I was delighted that Graeme Murty got the job until the end of the season because it was the right thing to do.

“If he can win the Cup and finish second he will deserve the job on a full-time basis.”