Great Scot

Darren Ferguson

The Big Interview: Steve Garratt and Peter Davies quiz the best midfielder in Division 2

Background: Darren Ferguson. He's got a famous dad and he moans a lot, by his own admission. He's the pivot around which the current Wrexham side revolves, that is, when he's not suspended.

Tell us about your time at United? 'Very enjoyable and a great experience playing with world-class players every day. Also the winning mentality installed in you is very important.'

Wolves? 'What I thought was a very good move at the time didn't work out that way. It turned into a very inconsistent time for me and the fact I had four different managers in five years didn't help. In the end I was glad to leave for a new challenge in Holland.'

Holland? 'I had a very enjoyable eight months in Rotterdam. I learnt a hell of a lot in the time I was over there that definitely made me a better player. It was a pity I had to leave for other reasons because they wanted me to stay longer, but I made a lot of good friends out there.'

How did you come to join Wrexham? 'Brian Flynn did try to sign me a couple of times when I was at Wolves and I just got a phone call out of the blue the summer after I had just come back from Holland. A move to Bolton had just fallen through so he asked if I wanted to play a few games to get some fitness. Although it was only meant to be a short period I enjoyed it so much, and could see the progress the club was making, that I am still here now.'

What's your dad's secret? 'His desire to win and the amazing energy he has for the game; also the fact his players respect him and he always gets the right response on the pitch from them.'

What does he think of Mr Flynn? 'He has great respect for the gaffer and feels he has done a great job under the circumstances. I think the team he sent for the gaffer's testimonial sums up the respect he has for him and Kevin Reeves.'

How does he rate Wrexham? 'He thinks we have a chance of the play-offs if we can add one or two players.'

Have you heard the rumours about him buying the club? Or getting a place on the Board? Any truth here? 'No truth whatsoever - some very imaginative minds going about I think!'

Can you recall your Reds debut? 'It was against Oxford and we took the lead after about five minutes. We should have been three or four up by about half time, I think. The second half was much more even but we just hung on to win.'

What's your opinion of Mr Flynn? 'I have great respect for the gaffer and feel he has done a fantastic job with the club .I know some fans give him stick which I find amazing; he can only select the players he is working with. If he was given half the money some teams in our division get, he would definitely get us out of this division and it is only through loyalty he has stayed.'

Joey? 'Great guy, even though he's a Celtic fan. A very good coach who has the club in his heart. If there was one man I could pick to look after me in midfield it would be him.'

Reeves? 'An excellent coach who I don't think gets the credit he deserves for what he does for the club - probably because he stays out of the limelight. I get on very well with Kevin, as I do with Joey and the gaffer; that was the reason I stayed at Wrexham when I could have gone elsewhere.'

Describe yourself as a player? 'A ball-winning hatchet man…only joking. I like to play football on the ground and link up with the strikers as much as possible but do need to watch my temper especially with referees.'

Who are your favourite midfielders? 'Keane, Veron, and of course Giggs.'

Tell us about the Trinidadians… 'Good guys who always have a smile on their faces. I think Carlos and Hector have great potential if they keep learning and I think Dennis will be a very good signing for us - a natural leader on the pitch and he has a lot of international experience. I feel he will make a big difference to the team this season.'

What's been the highlight of your Wrexham career so far? 'Scoring the winner against Boro was very enjoyable but probably the best part was winning the player of the year award because it gave me a better view of how I had done over the whole year and because it was from the fans.'

What are your ambitions? 'To play at the highest level possible - again, hopefully with Wrexham. If not, then I have to think about doing it somewhere else because I know I can.'

Who are your mates at Wrexham? 'Carey, Rooster and Macca before he left.'

Any interesting hobbies? 'Golfing and I also like to cook.'

Tell us about the Wigan offer and your chat with Flynn and Farrell... 'I was close to joining Wigan who came in with three different offers in the end. But first I had to speak to the manager and Geoff. We spoke at great lengths about everything at the club and we all gave our views about these different matters. After about two hours in the meeting I soon know I wanted to stay because of my relationship with the gaffer and his staff and because of the ideas and ambition Geoff had for the club, and I was very disappointed when he left the club But I was happy to stay at the club at the time due to the talks we had.'

Tell us about Rogers? 'Always in the treatment room; got the breaking strain of a kit-kat.'

Walsh? 'Very quiet lad. I actually thought he was mute the first month I was at the club.'

Carey? 'Great lad who I've known for quite a while now. I seem to be following him about. He can't get rid of me, as he would say.'

Roberts? 'Mr Music. Spends his spare time driving his mum mad playing the guitar and piano, though he's very good at both. Also a bit of an artist on the sly - man of many talents.'

Phillips? 'Rushie - top man. He is Mr Wales, I think he's the only member of the playing staff who speaks Welsh. He never stops asking me for United tickets. Great lad, though.'

Barrett? 'Scared of his own shadow - always something wrong with Baz and he is prone to 20-minute fits of giggles. Once he starts he can't stop. Funny lad.'

Gibson? 'Mr I Never Stop Swearing Gibson. Every second word is a swear word with Gibbo - him and Baz are like Beavis and Butthead.'

Trundle? 'Charlie Nicholas, I call him, due to the fact he never wears socks and has some terrible white suits. Good lad, though, and he has bags of potential. Big player for us this season.'

Chalk? 'Bit of an antique dealer old Chalkie, and I think some of his socks have got to be the worst collection of socks I have ever seen.'

Blackwood? 'Typical Brummie with that terrible accent. Likes his music, Mike does, although most of it is minging.'

Faulconbridge? 'Mr Vain - has more bottles of clinique than I don't know what. Always in the mirror looking at himself - needs a couples scars I would say.'

Russell? 'Rooster has had more clubs than Tommy Docherty, I think. Great lad who I get on very well with. We have got to be the two biggest moaners one football club has ever had and I am sure the lads would agree.'

Morrell? 'What can I say about Andy apart from he has the worst haircut I have ever seen - still the same as when he was six. A lethal finisher in the box.'

darren ferguson: top trivia

Main personality trait: As the lads would tell you, I never stop moaning at them; it is never personal though, just that I want to win no matter what it is.

Favourite/least favourite food? Pasta/Eggs.

Favourite/least favourite drink? Red wine/White wine.

Favourite TV show? The Fast Show.

Favourite footballer? Ryan Giggs.

Favourite/least favourite music? Paul Weller/Phil Collins.

Favourite holiday destination? New York.

Favourite yoghurt flavour? Don't eat them.

Favourite crisp flavour? Prawn cocktail.

Favourite newspaper? The Times.

Favourite politician? Tony Blair.