Former Rangers captain Barry Ferguson admits he broke down when told that kitman Jimmy Bell had passed away.
And the midfield ace has urged Rangers to beat RB Leipzig on Thursday and reach the Europa League final in tribute to the 69-year-old from Wishaw.
Ferguson first met Bell when visiting Ibrox with brother Derek, who played under Graeme Souness.
He got to know Bell better when coming through the ranks at Ibrox, and their bond was so strong that the kitman named his dog after Ferguson.
Ferguson, 44, who received the news at 5am from Rangers masseur Dave Laverty, told the Daily Record : "I’m devastated and numb. I’m all over the place.
“It’s all come so suddenly. For the first time in my life, I’m lost for words because he meant so much to me.
“To be honest with you, I broke down. I did. Everyone thinks Jimmy had this grumpy, moany exterior but I tell you what – he had a massive heart.
“He’d do anything for you and he certainly looked after me when I was breaking through at the club. We became really close and it was a special relationship.
“He’s part of the fabric of the club. I think of Rangers and I think of Jimmy Bell. He was the best. It’s easy to say that when someone passes away but he really was.
“Just the way he went about his business, his character. He was a proper man."
Ferguson added: "My bond with him started when I was breaking through. I was a local lad from Hamilton and Jimmy came from Wishaw.
“When I was younger before I could drive he’d drive me home at night after games.
“We just hit it off. He had such a dry sense of humour but his one-liners would put you to bed.
“Some other players got it tight but never once did Jimmy chop me down.
"I have so many memories but I tell you what, the biggest compliment he ever paid me was he named his Labrador after me.
“I know how much he loved his dog and he named it Fergie. When I found out he’d done that I was absolutely buzzing.
“That’s when you know you were in Jimmy’s good books. Every memory I have from being with him was special to me.
“I was with him only a few weeks ago at the legends game at Ibrox and he had even put my strip out in the same spot I always sat in the dressing room when I was playing for the club.
“It’s wee things like that which sum him up."
Ferguson reckons Rangers' players will be even more fired up for Thursday's Ibrox crunch, and will want to win for their kitman.
He said: "I’m sure inside the training ground today it will be quiet. People will be so devastated.
“But I’m convinced more than ever that Rangers will win on Thursday because they’ll want to do it for Jimmy.
“And that’s all Jimmy would want, to see the team win. All he ever wanted was for Rangers to be the best.”
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