WARBURTON: IT’S GOOD TO TALK
Warburton says open dialogue would help Scots refs improve
WITH eight wins from his first eight games in charge, Mark Warburton boasts a 100-per- cent start to life as Rangers manager. But not everything he has experienced i n Scottish football has been as perfect.
This past week has seen Scottish referees under fierce attack for their performances, with games at Hamilton, Dundee and Dumfries coming under the microscope.
Warburton was one such dissenter, in his own measured manner, when he stuck up for Queen of the South’s Derek Lyle after his sending- off last Sunday by Bobby Madden, at the behest of fourth official Crawford Allan.
Rangers were 1-0 ahead at the time and after that ‘ big call’ — following what Warburton described as a ‘handbags’ clash with Rangers defender Rob Kiernan — the Ibrox side duly romped home 5-1.
Scottish refs hit back at their critics this week. But Warburton has been left with the impression that match officials north of the border possess a narrow view of the game and lack understanding of how players, managers and coaches see it.
He believes the chasm could d be bridged by adopting thee English model of increased d dialogue between all parties s as well as inviting match officials in for more contact with clubs and players.
‘ Referees have faced criticism this week but I think it’ s about ( match officials) understanding how we see the game and whatt we’re looking for as managers and coaches,’ said the former Brentford boss.
‘Down south, we did a lot of work with David Allison, the head of referees at the Football League, about how we can help referees.
‘They have a really tough job — I’m not ignoring that — and you’re going to get incidents. But such is the level of what’s at stake now in the game that those decisions are under scrutiny more than ever.
‘So, if we can help them in terms of what we see, how our players react, why they react, how could we improve; that would help. For example, referees could come into training sessions and referee an eight-a-side game.
‘It’s got to be raised. The players do video analysis and they have to learn from every game — but that should not be reserved to the players only.’
Warburton, however, does not believe it would be beneficial to adopt an initiative from down south that saw managers able to converse with match officials at full-time.
‘We had that option but nothing is gained,’ he said. It can be a very heated time. As managers and coaches, we have the beauty of being able to look at a replay 10 times before we say: “You’re wrong!” Referees don’t have that luxury, so that’s not a level playing field.
‘But I do think it’s important that, in the course of the week, you get a chance to discuss games because there is so much both parties can learn. If we can communicate better, we can make positive strides.’
Warburton’s thoughts then turned to tomorrow’s visit of Raith Rovers when victory would see him notch up nine wins in a row and overtake Bill Struth’s record — albeit one set in the top flight.
The Englishman believes his team’s fine start to the season has been helped by an atmosphere of harmony in the squad and an ethos of inclusiveness and respect.
‘I can’t talk highly enough of guys like Lee Wallace, Kenny Miller, Dean Shiels and Nicky Law,’ he said. ‘They have all been superb. The way the young guys like Gedion Zelalem, Nathan Oduwa and Dominic Ball have been welcomed into the club is testament to the older lads.
‘We mix the tables at lunch, so there are no cliques. We don’t want all the senior pros at one end and new guys at the other end. The whole environment is conducive to developing as a unit.
‘We also make sure they leave the room tidy, clean and respectful. It’s common courtesy and we make sure that is installed in them.
‘There is a code of conduct for the players and they get fined if there are water bottles or tops left out. Hopefully the environment is conducive to them becoming better players.’
Eyebrows were raised when Warburton let Andy Murdoch go on loan to Cowdenbeath before the transfer window shut this week. But he insisted the club’s Young Player of the Year from last season needs more game time if he is to stand a chance of a first-team place.
‘Andy’s got to play. If he’s getting eight minutes here and there he can say he’s on the bench f or Rangers but he won’t develop, said Warburton.
‘What does he need to do to get in the team? He has to come back better than Andy Halliday, better than Zelalem, better than Law, better than Shiels, better than Jason Holt.
‘Look at Toumani Diagouraga. I sent him out to Portsmouth for eight games and he came back and was Brentford’s Player of the Year. The right loan at the right time can really benefit a player.
‘But the bottom line is Andy Murdoch has to be better than what we have here. My job is to pick the best team for Rangers. I am not going to pick anyone out of sympathy.’