Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
POISONOUS REPUGNANT
Ex-gers skipper blasts club’s PR department for statement on Derek Mcinnes job rejection
BARRY FERGUSON last night blasted Rangers for putting the boot into Derek Mcinnes.
The former Light Blues skipper believes a statement released by his old club hours after the Aberdeen boss turned down the manager’s post at Ibrox was “disrespectful” and laced with undignified and disguised digs at the 46-year-old’s decision.
The Mcinnes fiasco brought an end to weeks of speculation over the
Dons supremo’s future after he opted to remain at
Pittodrie leaving caretaker Graeme Murty in temporary charge until at least the end of this month as the search for a replacement for Pedro Caixinha continues.
A five paragraph statement claimed it was in Mcinnes’s (below) best interests to remain at his current club because “moving to a massive club like Rangers is a big step”.
But Ferguson believes the wording of the release wasn’t befitting a club of the Ibrox side’s stature.
He said: “It was basically having a go at Derek for his decision not to accept their managerial vacancy. The bottom line is that it isn’t the conduct of the Rangers
I know. It was disrespectful.
“There should have been a far better way to put across their disappointment but whoever wrote the statement needs to have a long, hard look at himself.
“It’s not the way Rangers used to conduct their business. That statement just wasn’t the Rangers I know and I’m certain it didn’t come from a board member or anyone at that level. I have no doubt about that whatsoever.
“At the moment it’s all ifs and buts. Clearly, something has gone on in terms of what Derek has not been happy with.
“It could have been a financial issue which he couldn’t come to an agreement on. It could have been a recruitment issue over which staff he wanted to bring in.
“Maybe it was down the level of finance he would get to go out and improve the squad, we don’t know.
“I don’t doubt we will find out as Derek will have his say after what’s been said in that Rangers statement from a ‘spokesperson’.”
Ahead of today’s clash with Ross County at Ibrox, Rangers caretaker boss Graeme Murty (inset) leapt to the defence of the Ibrox board over their failed approach to lure Mcinnes. Rangers have told Murty he’ll be in charge until at least the end of the year, which will take him to 18 games and almost 100 days in the hotseat in 2017.
Murty said: The board have taken time to do their due diligence, they have made an approach, the appointment didn’t come off.
“But the way it was conducted, as far as I am concerned, was very respectful to all concerned.” Ryan Jack will begin a three-match ban for the visit of Ross County this afternoon but Bruno Alves is back after missing the Aberdeen clash last week.