Graemehappy to play the long gamesolongas Gers get it right
GRAEME MURTY insists the Rangers board are right to take their time in appointing the next Ibrox boss – because the Light Blues can’t afford to get this one wrong.
The 43-year-old is set to continue as interim manager for the Premiership double-header with Aberdeen following the sacking of Pedro Caixinha last month.
Some Gers fans are frustrated at the length of time it has taken for the Ibrox hierarchy to make a move and appoint a permanent successor to the Portuguese.
But Murty knows the consequences of bringing in the wrong man could be severe for Rangers as they attempt to close the gap to Old Firm rivals Celtic.
He said: “It (taking time) is a lot better than getting it wrong. This is the key signing for the next three years at the football club.
“If it takes a couple of weeks more than the fans would like to make sure we move forward then I would ask them for a bit of understanding.
“I know people want things sorted out. I know they want a resolution now, but the correct resolution would be better for the football club.
“Not necessarily for myself, but better for the football club, than a hasty one.
“It will be what it will be. Where do we want to get this football club to?
“I spoke before about where we need to be, how we need to be at the top table of Scottish football.
“We want to actually get in to European football regularly.
“If we get the next five years right I said that this club is a massive club, an epic name.
“We want to get it back to where it deserves to be, where we want it to be.
“Disappointment now could set the next five years down a fantastic path.
“If we get that appointment wrong we risk jeopardising that future.
“The last thing we want is for the other guys across town to get further away from us.
“We want to close the gap. We don’t want that gap to get bigger.
“The disappointment fans feel now will be critical in that.”
Rangers are fourth in the standings after successive Premiership defeats to Hamilton and Dundee and are already well off the pace being set by Celtic this term.
Supporters will seek clarity on what the future holds on and off the park when Dave King leads the Light Blues’ AGM on Thursday.
Murty said: “Those discussions have to take place at board level and with the boss man.
“The liaison between myself, Mark [Allen], Stewart [Robertson] and Mr [Dave] King, that’s ongoing.
“But those questions needs to be addressed at a higher level than me.
“Possibly with a permanent incumbent, the next guy in the door.
“They’ll have their own opinions, so there’s no point in me giving this needs to happen or that needs to happen if the next guy in says I disagree with points A, B and C that you have put forward.
“That means we are just wasting a massive amount of energy. What needs to happen is a resolution forward for the football club needs to be put together.”