Paul Le Guen has resigned as manager
of Rangers.
The club haven't given a categorical reason but it's fair to assume
that it has as much to do with the demotion of ousted Gers skipper
Barry Ferguson as it has with Celtic's massive lead in the SPL. The
Frenchman took charge in the summer but has presided over a
disappointed season so far, with Rangers 17 points behind leaders
Celtic in the Bank of Scotland Premier League.
He stripped the popular Barry Ferguson of the captaincy on Monday,
and dropped him from the squad for the next day's match at
Motherwell in the Bank of Scotland Premier League. Le Guen claimed
Ferguson had attempted to exert undue influence on the Rangers
squad, and argued that the 28-year-old was undermining his
authority.
It appeared that one of the two men would have to leave, Le Guen
was hugely successful in French football with Lyon, helping them
win three successive Ligue 1 titles. However he struggled to make
the transition to the Scottish game.
Reserve-team coach Ian Durrant will take charge of training on
Friday. Rangers play Dunfermline on Sunday in the Scottish
Cup.
PAUL LE GUEN FACTFILE
2002: Joins French champions Lyon, taking over from Jacques
Santini.
2003-2005: Leads Lyon to three successive Ligue 1 titles. The club
also reach the Champions League quarter-finals in 2004 and
2005.
2005, May 9: Announces he will not renew his contract with Lyon
which ends on June 30 and is linked with a move to join countryman
Arsene Wenger at Arsenal.
2006: February - Le Guen confirms discussions with Rangers to
replace Alex McLeish, who has announced he will step down in the
summer.
March 11 - Agrees three-year deal to become new Rangers manager at
the start of 2006-2007 season.
August 7 - Police confirm Le Guen was confronted and verbally
abused by rival fans after watching Old Firm rivals Celtic's match
at Hearts.
November 8 - After a poor start to the league season, Rangers hit
rock bottom in terms of morale after a 2-0 defeat to Division One
side St Johnstone in the CIS Insurance Cup. Le Guen said: "I have
lost games before but this one was one of the worst."
December 27 - Rangers crash 2-1 to Inverness Caledonian Thistle in
the Bank of Scotland Premier League. Their second league defeat to
Inverness in the season leaves Rangers third in the SPL, 17 points
behind leaders Celtic and two points behind Aberdeen.
2007: January 1 - Drops Barry Ferguson from the squad for the match
against Motherwell and strips the midfielder of the
captaincy.
January 2 - Reveals he dropped Ferguson because he felt he was
being undermined by the player. "He tries to have too much
influence. Even if I don't agree with him on the role of the
captain, and I don't think he is as important as he thinks," said
Le Guen, who accepted the decision may cost him his job.
January 4 - Leaves Rangers by mutual consent
