YOUR FAULT DAVE
NEIL LENNON reckons Dave King sparked Rangers’ player revolt by undermining Graeme Murty’s authority at the club.
The Hibs boss spoke of his sympathy for Murty as the fallout from last weekend’s Old Firm humiliation prompted civil war within the Ibrox club’s ranks. Lennon reckons players would
never openly disrespect a boss who they know has the full backing of the club.
So he felt for Murty when Andy Halliday and Daniel Candeias launched verbal outbursts at the bench when subbed in the 4-0 Scottish Cup defeat.
The subsequent expulsion of Kenny Miller and Lee Wallace for an alleged foul-mouthed rant at Murty pointed to another challenge of his authority.
All of which Lennon believes can be traced back to King’s statement in the build-up to the game when the chairman clearly hinted Murty will not be in charge beyond this season.
Asked how any manager would feel about the timing, Lennon said: “I don’t think it was helpful to him or his staff.
“I don’t know the ins and outs of what went on after the game but it does seem to be a bit of a mountain out of a molehill.
“You have two experienced players giving their opinions but the problem Graeme has is that for so long he’s been an interim manager. So when things are going well everyone is buying into it and saying, ‘This is great.’
“But when things aren’t going well the players can say, ‘Well, you’re not the manager or you might not be the manager for much longer.’
“That is the position Graeme has found himself in. He has dealt with things pretty well but it has been unfair at times.”