Murty not involved in transfers
GRAEME MURTY has admitted that Rangers director of football Mark Allen will have the final say on January transfer targets. The interim manager has been placed in charge until the end of the year after Aberdeen boss Derek McInnes turned down the Ibrox job. After three straight wins, the clamour for Murty to be given the role until the end of the season is growing. However, the Under-20s coach revealed that he will have no direct input into signings even if he’s still in charge in the New Year. ‘I’m not involved in identifying targets,’ confessed Murty. ‘I’m involved in identifying characteristics and areas of the squad we need to strengthen. ‘Our recruitment department and Mark are looking at
targets. They are looking at players with the characteristics required to play for this football club.
‘We’re in daily discussions but, as it comes closer to that time and to individual players, you’ll have to talk to Mark because he’s in charge of that side of it at the moment in our current set-up.
‘I haven’t been told anything is going to stop us getting a player that we like.
‘But, similarly, I haven’t been that detailed with specific targets as yet.’
Allen recently appointed a new Rangers scouting team, with Andy Scoulding heading up player recruitment and former Ibrox defender John Brown also coming on board.
Portuguese international Bruno Alves has had interest from the Middle East and could leave if he feels his World Cup place is put at risk by a lack of action recently.
Carlos Pena and Eduardo Herrera could also return to Mexico on loan after Pedro Caixinha — the man who signed them — returned to management with Cruz Azul.
Acknowledging that the lack of a permanent manager could see the club miss out on potential signings, however, Murty conceded: ‘It’s possible. But, to be perfectly honest, I think we’re buying a bit of trouble if we get focused on it.
‘The squad is as it is at the moment. We’ve identified that there are areas we need to strengthen and it’s down to the recruitment group to make sure that those best targets are identified.
‘As or when a new manager comes in, they will be addressed at that time along with the new manager’s targets.’
Rangers face Hibernian at Easter Road tonight gunning for four wins in a row after home and away victories over Aberdeen and a weekend comeback against Ross County.
Responding to calls for the Rangers board to appoint him until the end of the season, Murty shrugged: ‘To be perfectly honest, I’m not in a position to think about that.
‘I thought I would have last weekend off with my family. It didn’t happen, I had to readjust.
‘I’m readjusting to the fact I’m taking the team for an extended period at this moment. How long that period is is down to someone else.
‘I can’t look at that because it’s really boring. I just focus on the now and make sure I get this bit right.
‘If I am, I’ll give it my very best shot. If I’m not and someone comes in tomorrow, I’ll give them my 100-per-cent support and everything I can.
‘But I’ll just crack on until I’m told otherwise.’
Murty and assistant Jonatan Johansson watched Hibs fight back to draw 2-2 with Celtic at Easter Road last Sunday.
Predicting more intensity and a different formation from the Leith side against Rangers, the caretaker boss also played down talk of Rangers capitalising on Celtic’s stumbles to stage a title challenge.
‘I think at the moment they’re on top. We are chasing,’ he said.
‘Chasing is a good position to be in, but we have to be better and more consistent — that’s the theme throughout the season.
‘We have had a couple of good results, but then possibly had a stumble and we have to hit a level of consistency and performance that we have shown we can do. But we have to do it more often if we are going to get back towards
the top of the table. We are in second at the moment, but we have to take care of the small details and see where we are after the game.
‘Hibs will be looking to go and win the game and we have to deal with that, their intensity, their level, their play, because they have got some good players.
‘They have been successful this season and we have to make sure we are fully prepared for that.
‘Then, if we get closer to Celtic, great. But let’s make sure we focus on our process and our game first. Let’s not worry about Celtic, let’s concern ourselves with us.’
Ross McCrorie remains an injury doubt for the game at Easter Road after a foot knock against County last Saturday, while midfielder Graham Dorrans has seen a specialist in London as he continues to struggle with an ankle injury.
‘Ross is doubtful at the moment. He hasn’t trained today,’ said Murty. ‘He’s taken a sore one but we will wait. We’re prepared to wait for him and see how it goes. ‘He’s in the care of our fantastic medical team at this moment and we will see. ‘Dorrans is in London as we speak, seeing someone and continuing his course of treatment.’