Football: Barry is the man to get Gers going says Marvin.

Byline: By SAM McLEOD

FORMER Rangers star Marvin Andrews has backed skipper Barry Ferguson to drag the club back to a position of respectability.

Andrews, 30, was released in August after being told he no longer had a future at Ibrox under new manager Paul Le Guen (pictured below).

Now at Second Division Raith Rovers, the defender has watched his former club fall into decline this season. Rangers sit 15 points adrift of bitter rivals Celtic in the Bank of Scotland Premier League and the CIS Insurance Cup exit to St Johnstone forced Ibrox chairman David Murray to publicly back Le Guen last week after just four months in the job.

Andrews is at a loss to explain the alarming slump which has gripped Rangers this season.

But as they prepare for a crucial game against Hearts this weekend, he says he has faith in Ferguson to transform their fortunes.

"He is the captain of his country and he is the captain of one of the biggest teams in Europe," said Andrews.

"He is a great leader and he will help them get back to where they rightly belong in the table. Barry knows what is required.

"I know he is going to speak to the players and try to help them turn things around. They have talented players at Rangers. They have played at the highest level in Europe.

"I don't know the reason they have been unable to turn things around.

"The game is very hard and there is loads of pressure at Rangers from the fans because you are in the spotlight.

"But I hope Barry can spur the players on to play well for Rangers football club."

Some Gers fans believe a defender in the mould of Andrews - decent in the air and willing to attack the ball - is badly lacking at Ibrox.

Karl Svensson and Julien Rodriguez have both had spells on the bench this season, while midfielder Brahim Hemdani has been deployed at centre-half as Le Guen continues to search for his best defensive pairing.

Andrews stopped short of saying he could still do a job for Rangers but insists singling out the defence for their problems over the last few months is unfair.

He added: "I believe that I can play anywhere I am called upon. But I'm happy at Raith Rovers and that's where my focus is. It's not only the defenders who lose a game, it's the full team and Barry knows that. He keeps saying all the players need to pull together to turn things around."

Rangers go to France next Thursday to face an Auxerre side also having their problems after a desperately poor start to the campaign.

Auxerre skipper Benoit Cheyrou has warned his team-mates their season is close to breaking point.

Slumped in 14th spot in the French league, a massive 20 points adrift of runaway leaders Lyon, Auxerre haven't won in seven games and have the second worst defensive record in the top flight.

They lost their opening UEFA Cup group game 3-1 to Maccabi Haifa and defeat to Rangers will mean manager Jean Fernandez begins to feel the same pressure that has befallen Le Guen in recent weeks.

Cheyrou, who was in the Auxerre side that beat Rangers 2-0 at Ibrox at this stage of the 2004 UEFA Cup, said: "Would it be a surprise if this club was relegated? No it wouldn't.

"We have to become more aggressive and mentally tough to get through this difficult period. We all need to work as a team."

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SPREADING THE WORD: Andrews launches his DVD, With God Nothing Is Impossible, with former team-mates Barry Ferguson and Russell Latapy