Rangers manager Walter Smith has welcomed the idea of Barry Ferguson pledging the rest of his career to the Ibrox club.
Ferguson celebrated his 30th birthday last weekend and claimed he had at least another five years to offer at the highest level before hanging up his football boots.
Reports this week suggesting the skipper was already in talks with Rangers chiefs regarding a contract extension appear to be wide of the mark.
But Smith believes no-one at Ibrox would have a problem with Ferguson putting pen to paper on a new deal that would see him end his career with his boyhood heroes.
"I don't think Rangers have been approached by Barry's agents so far," said Smith.
"As far as I'm aware, he is contracted until around 2010.
"Maybe something will take place if Rangers are approached or Rangers will approach his agents.
"Since I have been here, we have been delighted with the way he has been playing and I don't see any reason why, if he wants to stay at Rangers for whatever length of time, that he can't do so.
"I don't think there is any problem with that club-wise. If it does happen shortly that's fine, if it's a bit later that's equally fine."
Ferguson's future at Rangers was thrown into doubt 12 months ago when he was stripped of the captaincy and dropped from the team after a falling out with then boss Paul Le Guen.
The Frenchman departed the club instead and Ferguson has blossomed since Smith was installed as Le Guen's successor.
The Rangers boss added: "He has played exceptionally well for us, not just this year, but in the period since we have come back.
"He has hit an exceptional level of form and he has hit that level consistently which has been a big thing for us overall."
Another player who has no plans to quit the game any time soon is Christian Dailly.
The 34-year-old quit West Ham to sign a four-month deal with Rangers last month and is determined to delay his retirement for as long as possible.
"I like playing, I like being involved," he said. "If you talk to any player they will tell you to go on as long as you can.
"After all, it's a game of football. If I'm physically capable of playing, then why not carry on.
"There are guys who play Sunday, pub or amateur football just for the fun of it. When it's your job, that's even better.
"I'm only 34. Because I was in the first-team at Dundee United when I was just 16, people think I'm older.
"I have always been an athlete. I was the fittest player at West Ham before I left. I'm proud of that.
"We worked that out with the fitness stats as regards running, matches, everything."
Meanwhile, Smith has dedicated his Clydesdale Bank Premier League manager of the month award for January to his players.
He said: "It's always nice to get an award. But, as a manager, it's always a reflection on how your team is doing.
"You don't get these awards if your team aren't doing very well. We have played to a good level recently.
"I said to everyone after the first quarter of the season that we had to show a bit of improvement in the second quarter. We have managed to do that results-wise; performance-wise we have had one or two hiccups but have managed to win the games.
"It has been a good effort by everyone to try to reach that level of consistency and it will need an increased level if we are going to continue that."
Source : www.sportinglife.com
