The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Gers’ transfer tactics defended by Murty
Graeme Murty has dismissed Kris Boyd’s claims that Rangers are unsettling their transfer targets with lowball offers.
Kilmarnock frontman Boyd hit out after his Rugby Park boss Steve Clark branded a reported £350,000 Ibrox bid for winger Jordan Jones “nowhere near acceptable”.
The former Rangers striker claimed his old side have made a habit of dragging out negotiations with rival clubs, with the resulting speculation serving only to disrupt the players in question.
The Light Blues remain in talks with Hamilton after seeing their opening offer for Greg Docherty rejected while they failed to land former Hearts wideman Jamie Walker after falling short of the Jambos’ £1 million valuation in the summer.
Jamie Murphy also had to be signed on loan from Brighton this month after talks on a permanent deal broke down at the last minute.
But Ibrox boss Murty insists Rangers have the right to demand value for money.
“Kris is entitled to his own opinion, but as far as I am concerned we have handled it in an above-board manner,” Murty said ahead of tomorrow’s William Hill Scottish Cup clash at Fraserburgh.
“We have gone to the club, we’ve made an offer and they are perfectly within their rights to say no. “That’s fine, we move forward. “Either we negotiate or we walk away. That’s our prerogative.
“It’s also the player’s club’s prerogative to say no.”
Meanwhile, Murty claims Lee Wallace will be fit soon, despite going back in for more surgery.
The Gers skipper has not played since September 15.
Murty said: “Lee has had a bilateral hernia repair but we’re confident he won’t be out for too much longer and that we will have him back in short order.”
The Rangers boss confirmed Bruno Alves was facing an extended spell on the sidelines, while Ross McCrorie and Ryan Jack await news on injury concerns.
Murty has included his four January recruits for the trip to the Highland League side – Sean Goss, Jamie Murphy, Jason Cummings and Russell Martin – but midfielder Graham Dorrans remains out.