I’ve learned from bitter experience it’s wrong to undermine your gaffer. I did it with Roxburgh and regret it to this day
Gough insists players deserved pelters after Hampden horror show not Murty RANGERS EXCLUSIVE
RICHARD GOUGH reckons Kenny Miller and Lee Wallace will have been guilty of dropping their standards off the park as much as their team-mates did on it.
That’s if the assertion they blasted boss Graeme Murty in the Hampden dressing room is proved to be correct.
And the nine-in-a-row skipper is speaking from experience having lived with the regret of rapping former Scotland bosses Andy Roxburgh and Craig Brown for 25 years now.
Gough quit the national team in 1993 following a spat with Roxburgh, never adding to his 61 caps even after Brown stepped up from assistant.
And he was part of the Rangers dressing room when fan favourite Graham Roberts questioned Graeme Souness’ authority in front of his team-mates and was told to pack his bags.
Miller and Wallace now face the same fate at Ibrox as Murty bids to lift his squad for the run-in with second spot in the balance.
Record Sport revealed yesterday there is a mounting feeling of unrest among the playing staff over the suspensions dished out by club chiefs.
But Gough clearly believes they have a case to answer and is adamant the only role Murty should have had to adopt following their 4-0 Scottish Cup capitulation to Celtic was as peacemaker between warring players.
The 56-year-old, now a Rangers ambassador, said: “I would’ve liked to have seen Miller and Wallace try that with Graeme Souness or Walter Smith.
“I don’t think that would have happened. Their course of action was very unfair on Graeme.
“I know from bitter experience they were wrong. I undermined Andy Roxburgh and Craig Brown in a book once by speaking about our poor relationship and it was a huge mistake. I regret it still and should have kept my own counsel.
“An attack on the manager disappoints me because I look at younger players in that dressing room such as Ross McCrorie, Declan John and Greg Docherty and wonder what they must be thinking.
“I understand they are upset. Miller was on the bench and maybe thought he should have started. Wallace hasn’t played in seven months so must be feeling frustrated. But they should’ve handled the situation better. They stepped over the line. People talk about having a passion for the club but you have to be clever about it as well.
“Miller has now been suspended twice in the same season and Wallace was also told to stay away from a game against Kilmarnock by Pedro Caixinha. Those aren’t actions that will have been taken lightly.
“I remember losing games to Celtic and good European opposition and in the following days asking Walter in particular why he did certain things.
“He was very approachable and told me if I was ever lucky to occupy his chair I would understand why decisions had to be made. I would never have dreamed of questioning his authority in front of the other players. It’s about dignity and class and showing respect to the manager and the office he holds.
“The players should be setting a better example. The manager cannot be undermined in such a manner.
“Instead of having a go at the manager they should have had a go at the players on the pitch.
“If they had a gripe, it should have been with the passive nature of the team’s performance. It was like a practice session for Celtic at times.
“The Rangers players lacked personality, confidence – arrogance even. They looked like deer caught in the headlights. It wasn’t the manager who lost them the game.
“If the manager should have been in the middle of anything afterwards it should’ve been preventing the players from knocking lumps out of each other after such a poor performance.”
Fans’ group the Union Bears plan a silent protest on Sunday against Hearts as discontent grows among supporters put through the wringer.
And Gough has thrown down the challenge to other senior players, led by skipper James Tavernier, to prove they have the bottle for the battle. He said: “The supporters have held the club together in the last five years.
“They need a performance on Sunday against Hearts. I’d be looking to Tavernier to get the group together, maybe even without the manager, and get them focused on the challenge ahead with the help of other senior pros such as Wes Foderingham, Bruno Alves, Russell Martin, Graham Dorrans and Jamie Murphy.
“They have played at a decent level this season, including games against Hearts. They aren’t as bad as they are being made out but they need a reaction and a positive result this weekend. It’s not always about being
Instead of having a go at the manager they should have had a go at the players RICHARD GOUGH
knocked down, it’s about how well you pick yourself up.”
However, Gough admits instability in the dugout has cost Rangers dear. Chairman Dave King and the board aren’t blameless and Gough knows they must get it right with Murty likely to return to the Under-20s.
He said: “The timing of managerial departures has not been great. Six managers in three years? We’ve only had 13 previously in our history. Rangers have traditionally been a club that gives managers a chance.
“Graeme hasn’t done too badly in such a difficult situation and the board will have irons in the fire.
“I’m sure the manager’s position will be sorted one way or another by the start of June.”