BLUE MURDER
Caretaker: board will ‘take time’ to appoint new man despite defeat
RANGERS caretaker manager Graeme Murty has revealed the Ibrox board will still “take their time” appointing a permanent replacement for Mark Warburton – despite suffering another costly defeat.
The Ibrox club crashed to a 2-1 loss to bottom-placed Inverness Caledonian Thistle at the Tulloch Caledonian Stadium last night when Billy McKay netted an overhead kick in the 89th minute. Rangers, who parted company with Warburton 15 days ago, have now won just one of their last seven league games and will fall nine points behind second-placed Aberdeen if the Pittodrie club beat Ross County at home today.
Murty, the under-20 coach who has taken over on a temporary basis, revealed the club had provided him with support since he stepped up to take charge of the first team earlier this month.
However, the former Scotland defender,
who denied Rangers’ hopes of finishing runners-up in the top flight this term had gone, said he didn’t expect anyone to be brought in imminently.
“I have been put in a very difficult position, but the board have taken steps and I’ve been offered help,” he said. “I have taken advantage of that help which was kindly offered, but at the moment that will remain private between me and the person who is helping me.
“I have to say, the people helping me doesn’t take away from the fact the players have to focus on what they can control. They can just control their attitude and performance.
“The board will take their time to appoint the person they think should be in place at a time of their choosing. So until I’m told otherwise I will carry on doing what I’m doing for as long as they want me to do so.
“As far as I’m aware I’ll be preparing the players this week. We have to make sure we are ready and focused on Wednesday (against St Johnstone at Ibrox).
“It would be easy for the players to sink into disappointment and lack of confidence, but we have to make sure we get them up for that.”
Murty added: “I don’t think the uncertainty is a factor. We saw a group of players who were focused and for 25 minutes they were great. But it was the same old problem. When you don’t score and lose too many goals you don’t take too many points.
“The chance is still the same to get second place, the challenge is still there and we just have to go out and try to get enough points. Until it’s mathematically impossible we will be fighting to do that.”
Meanwhile, Richie Foran, whose Inverness team moved off bottom spot and above Hamilton, has expressed hope his side can go on an extended winning run after the triumph.
Foran said: “It’s huge for us. To beat a side of the calibre of Rangers, a really good side, I am delighted for the players and the supporters.”