Barry Ferguson, the former Rangers captain and interim manager, has been appointed to lead the club’s legends side at the revived Tennent’s Sixes tournament at Braehead Arena on 3 and 4 October.
What the event is and why it matters
The indoor six-a-side competition returns after a long absence, aiming to rekindle memories of the original tournament that captured football supporters’ imaginations during its nine-year run from 1984 to 1993. This year’s event will include sides representing all 12 clubs in the William Hill Premiership, with participating former players set to wear this season’s official club kits.
For supporters in Barry who follow Scottish football — and for former players and spectators who enjoy a bit of nostalgia alongside fast-paced, exhibition-style games — the tournament promises a compact, spectator-friendly weekend of football.
Format and modern tweaks
Organisers have kept the six-a-side spirit but introduced modern touches to sharpen the competition:
- The sin-bin will return as a disciplinary feature;
- Teams will earn bonus points for victories decided by penalty shootouts;
- The Saturday schedule comprises three regionalised groups of four teams, with the top two from each group and the two best third-placed sides advancing to the next stage.
Those changes are designed to produce clear winners in tight match situations and keep the group stages competitive and engaging for fans.
Ferguson’s role and recent track record
Ferguson is a decorated figure in Rangers’ modern history, having won five league titles, five Scottish Cups and five League Cups across two spells as a player at Ibrox. He also returned temporarily to first-team duties in February 2025 when he took charge of Rangers on an interim basis, guiding the club to a European quarter-final during that spell.
His involvement at Braehead will be separate from current first-team management under Derek McInnes, who continues to oversee the senior squad’s development. The legends appointment is a showcase role that draws on Ferguson’s deep association with the club and his familiarity to supporters.
Context within Rangers’ wider season
The appointment comes amid wider squad and recruitment discussions at Rangers. The club’s midfield structure is being monitored closely, particularly in the event of a potential departure by Nicolas Raskin in the January window — although no acceptable summer bids were received and a move remains uncertain. Separately, there has been reported interest from Lewis Ferguson in the club’s domestic recruitment planning, though the timing and feasibility of any such transfer were noted as open questions.
Rangers will reveal the full legends squad in the coming days. In the meantime, the senior team’s next Premiership fixture is an Old Firm match against Celtic on Sunday 20 September.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Event | Tennent’s Sixes (revived) |
| Dates | 3–4 October |
| Venue | Braehead Arena |
| Participants | All 12 William Hill Premiership clubs (legends squads) |
For fans in Barry who plan to travel, the two-day format concentrates fixtures into a weekend and brings together a range of former stars in an accessible indoor setting. The use of current club kits is a symbolic nod to continuity between the modern game and its recent past.
Further announcements, including the confirmed list of former players representing Rangers at Braehead, are expected shortly. The tournament offers a chance to see familiar faces in a competitive but convivial environment and will be watched keenly by those who track both the heritage and the future of the Scottish game.
