Ferguson was one of about 250 people attending a Q and A in Perth on Thursday with Rangers boss Charles Green who is keen to investigate football partnerships in Australia.

Last week au.fourfourtwo.com revealed Rangers were Down Under on the hunt for an A-League partnership, with Central Coast Mariners apparently top of their shopping list.

Green has already met with the Mariners' Lawrie McKinna and the Mariners board over the weekend.

Now Ferguson, McKinna's former assistant coach at the Mariners, has sung the praises of Rangers -currently in the Scottish fourth division after their financial turmoil last season - and their Yorkshire chairman.

"It was great to hear Charles Green’s talk to the fans tonight," Ferguson was quoted on the club’s website. 

"He put across some great points and covered the finances, the direction in which the club is going under his stewardship and he was very open regards his plans for the Rangers

"It was great to hear his support for the coaching staff and I would like to wish them, Charles, the Rangers fans and the club all the best for the future.

"Let’s hope they get back to where they belong as soon as possible."

Green met with Rangers fans in Perth, Melbourne and Sydney but zeroed in on the Central Coast Mariners leadership on Saturday over a long lunch.

Chairman Peter Turnbull, Director Michael Charlesworth and Football General Manager McKinna joined Green to discuss possible opportunities.

While details of the talks are being kept under wraps, Green was previously enthusiastic about establishing an academy with the Gosford outfit.

The idea was first floated before Christmas with McKinna, about the time Rangers were looking to pick up Mariners goalkeeper, Mat Ryan.

But the league leaders appear more keen on direct investment into the club than simply being a vehicle for Rangers to harvest their young talent for the Scottish fourth tier.

“We would not entertain the prospect of acting as a feeder club or Academy partner with a club currently playing in the lower echelons of Scottish football," the cub told Scotzine magazine before the meeting.

“If/when the Rangers situation changes, we would look to an Academy proposal more seriously.”

'Gers have suffered a dramatic fall from grace - entering liquidation last year, pursued by the taxman, sold and sent crashing into the Scottish Third Division. Green led a consortium that purchased the 54 league title-winning club for £5.5 million.

And despite their recent success on the field, the Mariners have struggled for finance.

Just recently the club revealed discussions were taking place with two Asian outfits – believed to be Chinese Super League clubs – about a substantial capital investment.