Barry Ferguson has called on Rangers to break their silence regarding the future of Giovanni van Bronckhorst.

It's reported that the Ibrox board have still to discuss where the club goes from here having fallen nine points behind Celtic at the weekend.

Theres a five-week mid-season break for the World Cup now. 

And Ferguson reckons the longer the situation remains a myster, the more chance of further damage to the club.

He told the Daily Record: "I’ve listened to Gio’s post match interview a number of times since the weekend and it’s clear to me that he isn’t sure about his own future.

“To tell you the truth, I actually feel a bit sorry for him because he’ll have gone back to Holland probably not knowing where he stands. Whatever you might think of him as a manager, that’s a horrible situation to be in as a man.

“In fact, it’s equally unsettling for the Rangers fans who just want to know where the club is going from here, the same way Gio must be feeling. I know the fans are suffering because every day I’m getting the same kind of questions. ‘What’s happening in there? Is he going to survive?’.

“That’s a horrible environment to have to deal with and it’s unhealthy for the football club in general. The place is crying out for answers and a bit of clarity. The situation will only get worse until a decision is made, one way or the other.

“The first conversation has to be between Gio and the board and it has to happen straight away. I know he’s gone back home but this conversation can’t be put off any longer.

“They need to discuss where it’s gone wrong over the last couple of months, where they want to be in the next couple of months – and how they plan to go about getting there.

"If they can agree on how to do it then they should come out and give Gio their backing.

"Tell the fans and the players that he’s in charge and that the club will be bringing in new players ahead of the second part of the season.

“But if they can’t agree and they decide they need to make a change, then they have to get on with it. Don’t leave everyone hanging any longer. One way or another a decision has to be made and the club needs to be given a sense of direction.

“I realise the club can’t come out and comment every time there’s any sort of issue. But this isn’t just any issue – this is huge – and it needs to be addressed with real urgency.”

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