Replacing Leslie Graham, he became the youngest manager in the Football League at the age of 31 but finished 21st in the Fourth Division in his first season.
The club won re-election to stay in the Football League but a 6–1 defeat to Barnet in the FA Cup in November 1970 resulted in his dismissal.
[7] His tenure was marked by financial constraints due to the construction of the Pioneer Stand at the team's Portman Road stadium.
[7] After several near misses, the club were relegated in 1986, and Ferguson was given an ultimatum that he would be dismissed if Ipswich were not promoted immediately back; they lost 2–1 on aggregate to Charlton Athletic in the 1987 play-off semi-finals.
[8] After leaving Ipswich, Ferguson travelled to Kuwait to work as a coach for Al-Arabi SC, managed by the Scotsman Dave Mackay.