Sunday Mirror (Northern Ireland)
RAE HAS A POP OVER KING CALL ON MURTY
ALEX RAE insists the pressure is now on Dave King to produce a box office managerial appointment for Rangers.
The former Ibrox star believes interim boss Graeme Murty was all but told he’ll be replaced after the chairman released a statement to coincide with season-ticket renewals.
King’s comments only served to deepen the uncertainty over who’ll be in change next season as he refused to back Murty ahead of today’s Scottish Cup semi-final with Celtic.
But Rae (right) is convinced whoever is handed the job will have to be a name capable of exciting an increasingly exasperated Light Blue support.
He said: “The Rangers fans aren’t daft – like myself, they’ve been in this movie too many times.
“King is now under pressure to bring in a box office manager as he’s asking the fans to fork out on season tickets without outlining what the future is.
“It all points to the fact Murty isn’t getting the job but it’s also a statement which says a lot without saying much. There were comments about the work going on behind the scenes but there is no detail.
“What is the work that’s being done? It’s very cloudy.
“Last year the fans bought season books in record numbers and they’ve been the strength at the club.
“The board have appointed managers and they haven’t worked so King’s right when he says he has to get this one correct.
“They paid £300,000 to bring in Pedro Caixinha last February so he could get a look at the club and assess what was required but that didn’t work.
“Clearly Rangers aren’t in a position to do that this time and that has caused the uncertainty.
“The timing of it all hasn’t helped with such a huge game against Celtic – all of the focus should have been on that.”