Barry Ferguson Supports John Souttar's Move to Greece
Barry Ferguson has thrown his weight behind John Souttar as the defender prepares to bring his Rangers chapter to a close.
The Scotland international was told at the very start of pre-season that he was not part of Derek McInnes’ plans and should find a new club. Since then, he has been training in the shadows at Ibrox, effectively frozen out while his future was decided.
Now that future looks set to be in Greece.
Souttar on brink of Aris move
Aris have reached an agreement to sign Souttar, with the centre-back expected to arrive in Greece shortly. The move comes only months after he penned a one-year contract extension with Rangers, a deal that suggested he still had a role to play in Glasgow.
Instead, he has gone from influential squad member to outcast in a matter of weeks.
Souttar has battled fitness issues during his time at Ibrox, but when available he has often been trusted in big moments. That is why his total omission under McInnes has raised eyebrows, not least from a man who knows him well.
Ferguson baffled by Ibrox snub
Barry Ferguson worked closely with Souttar during his spell as interim manager and remains a firm admirer of the 29-year-old. Speaking on the Go Radio Football Show on 10 September, the former Rangers captain did not hide his surprise at how the situation has unfolded.
“I worked very closely with John for three months, and I've got to be honest with you, he was outstanding for me. A real good professional. He was a really good leader in the dressing room.
“It was a surprise not being involved since the start of the season. Wherever he goes, they're getting a top centre-half in my opinion.”
For Ferguson, Souttar is more than just cover. He sees a defender who still carries real quality and a presence that can shape a dressing room. In his view, any club landing him is getting a player of substance, not a stop-gap.
Aris, it seems, are about to test that theory.
Risky call from McInnes?
McInnes has already felt the sting of early European elimination and knows the domestic stage now defines his season. Silverware is non-negotiable at Rangers, and the first real chance arrives in the Premier Sports Cup.
Celtic come to Ibrox in the quarter-final on 13 September. It is the kind of night where experience at the back can steady a team, where a voice like Souttar’s might have made a difference.
Instead, McInnes will lean on Emmanuel Fernandez, Olwethu Makhanya and Ben Godfrey as his central defensive options. Three centre-backs, one of them new to the environment, tasked with carrying a club expected to fight on all three Scottish fronts.
For a squad with title ambitions and cup demands, it is a thin line to walk. And if injuries or suspensions bite, the decision to push Souttar out the door may not just look bold.
It may look reckless.
