Rangers boss has backing of Ferguson

Rangers captain Barry Ferguson has backed manager Alex McLeish to remain at Ibrox after guiding the Glasgow side into the knockout stages of the Champions League.

A 1-1 draw at home to Inter on Tuesday put Rangers through, the first time a Scottish club has qualified from the group stage.

Rangers chairman David Murray handed McLeish an ultimatum last month to arrest their poor form and gave him a deadline of the first week in December.

Despite progress in Europe Rangers have not won for 10 games in all competitions, the worst run in the club's 132-year-old history.

"Of course, I want him (McLeish) to stay. I think after the result he will stay and I would hope so." Ferguson said.

Rangers were forced to play out a nervous final few minutes against Inter, declining to attack the Italians who were down to 10 men after Cristiano Zanetti's dismissal.

A 0-0 draw between Artmedia Bratislava and Porto was good enough for Rangers.

"I was going daft in the last few minutes, cracking up with the bench because I was shouting for the Artmedia score and no one was telling me," said Ferguson.