Le Guen leaves Ibrox
Paul Le Guen's seventh-month reign is over
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Thursday, 04, Jan 2007 11:05
Rangers manager Paul Le Guen has left the Glasgow club after just seven months in charge, bringing an abrupt end to his row with captain Barry Ferguson.
A statement from Ibrox this afternoon confirmed that the Frenchman had agreed to a mutual termination of his contract.
Rangers have struggled under Le Guen this season, currently lying 17 points behind leaders Celtic in the SPL, and earlier this month he took the drastic step of dropping Ferguson amid rumours his captain was undermining his authority.
But following crisis talks with Gers chairman Sir David Murray, it was ultimately decided that the player was more important than his manager and Le Guen has left as a result.
Murray said today: "Having met with Paul it was clear that in the interests of the club and all concerned we agreed jointly to him stepping down as manager."
And Le Guen, who now holds the record as the club's shortest serving manager, added: "I am disappointed to leave the club, but I think it is the best solution for all concerned. I would like to thank all the people who helped me and my team during my spell in Scotland.
"In particular I would like to thank the directors who at all times gave me their total support."
Ferguson left his hometown club to join Premiership outfit Blackburn Rovers for £7.5 million in 2003, but returned two seasons later due to homesickness and a lack of form.
He has since re-established himself as Rangers' most important player and has been the only consistent performer in a disappointing season so far.
But Le Guen's decision to strip Ferguson of the captaincy still initially divided Rangers fans, with some arguing the former Lyon coach was right to believe no manager or player is ever bigger than the club.