Warburton makes a key signing at Ibrox
Warburton reunited with recruitment chief
MARK Warburton last night hailed new head of recruitment Frank McParland as a key signing in his plan to revamp Rangers.
A former chief scout at Liverpool, where he was i nvolved i n the acquisition of Raheem Sterling, McParland is leaving his current role as Burnley’s sporting director and will formally join the Ibrox club next week.
Rangers have not had anyone directly leading their scouting since Neil Murray left in April 2013.
Warburton — who has taken ex-Barcelona and Manchester City youngster Gai Assulin on trial — worked with McParland during their time at Brentford.
The Ibrox manager now firmly believes the reunion will be of huge benefit to the Championship leaders as they plan their next steps.
‘Frank’s qualities are undoubted given the level he has worked at, Champions League level,’ said Warburton.
‘David (Weir) and I know him very well. He is one of the very best in the business.
‘He knows the type of players we are looking for, the attributes we look for, the character of the players we want on and off the pitch.
‘He has a network of contacts. Frank is a doer. He gets the players, is well respected and worked at the highest level. So to get him is a coup.
‘At Liverpool there were the likes of Raheem Sterling, Jordon Ibe and many others beside. But Frank is not one to talk about individual names. He has a long career, a long track record of signing some very good players.
‘If we need to add quality to a key area then his job is to go out and find the right players who will fulfil that criteria
‘You live and die by recruitment. Staff members and players, of course. He will be a very important part of the overall project, no doubt about that.
‘We have another two appointments coming shortly. We are making progress in key areas.’
McParland, 56, a dmitted his personal relationship with Warburton had been the primary factor in the switch to Rangers.
‘This has been a tough decision, because I completely respect all that Burnley Football Club has done for me in my short time here,’ he told the Burnley website.
‘However, Mark and I go back a l ong way. We’ve had a close friendship for nine years or so and we’ve worked together professionally for four or five years. The lure of joining up with him again was just too great.
‘This was never a club decision, because Burnley is a fantastic football club that I’ve been proud to work for. But I just couldn’t turn down the opportunity to work with Mark again, so it’s with a heavy heart I decided to leave.’
Warburton felt the significance of the appointment meant Rangers were right to wait until their preferred option became available. Their summer recruitment had been done primarily through Warburton and Weir exploiting their own contacts.
‘ It’s about getting the right person,’ added the Ibrox boss. ‘You can rush in after a couple of weeks and get the wrong person. But, as with a player, you’d rather be patient and end up with the right person.
‘David and I knew he was the right person. Again, though, we have to look at availability and speak to the board and owner. Not to sell him to them, but to put over why this man will be good for Rangers and is worth waiting for. He is one of the very best.’
Attacking mid fielder Assulin has been training at Murray Park for the past two days and comes with an intriguing back story. Now 24, he came through Barcelona’s famed youth system before moving to Manchester City. Released by them in 2012, he has had spells with Racing Santander, Granada and Real Mallorca.
‘I’ve only seen him for one day because I have been on the Pro Licence course,’ said Warburton.
‘I have seen a talented player, but you have to look at a player over the course of a few days to see how they do and then take it further.
‘You have to do your homework, due diligence and investigate if he is right for us and are we right for him. Then you have talks. We ask questions and we want him to ask us questions, as well.’
Warburton also revealed Rangers were f i nally on the brink of formalising an agreement with veteran midfielder John Eustace. He has been working at Murray Park since the start of the season as he homes in on fitness after a knee injury.
‘Hopefully, we are very close now,’ said Warburton.
“Frank isn’t one
to talk about
individuals”