Murty: Board will take time to decide despite latest setback

GRAEME MURTY, the Rangers caretaker manager, last night revealed the Ibrox club would “take their time” appointing a permanent replacement for Mark Warburton despite suffering another costly defeat.

The Ibrox club crashed to a dismal 2-1 loss to bottom-placed Inverness Caledonian Thistle last night when Billy McKay netted an overhead kick in the 89th minute.

Rangers have now won just one of their last seven league games and will fall nine points behind second-placed Aberdeen if the Pittodrie club beats Ross County at home today. Murty revealed the club had provided him with support since he stepped up to take charge of the first team. However, the former Scotland internationalist, who denied Rangers’ hopes of finishing runners-up in the top flight this term had gone, stressed he didn’t expect anyone else to be brought in imminently.

“I have been put in a very difficult position, but the board has taken steps and I’ve been offered help,” he said. “The people helping me doesn’t take away from the fact the players have to focus on what they can control. They can just control their attitude and performance.

“The board will take its time to appoint the person it thinks should be in place at a time of its choosing. So, until I’m told otherwise, I will carry on doing what I’m doing. As far as I’m aware, I’ll be preparing the players this week. We have to make sure we are ready and focused on Wednesday [Rangers play St Johnstone at Ibrox in the Premiership].

“It would be easy for the players to sink into disappointment and lack of confidence, but we have to make sure we get them up for that.”

Murty added: “I don’t think the uncertainty is a factor. We saw a group of players who were focused and for 25 minutes they were great. But it was the same old problem. When you don’t score and lose too many goals you don’t take too many points.

“The chance is still the same to get second place. The challenge is still there and we just have to go out and try to get enough points to do that. Until it’s mathematically impossible we will be fighting to do that.”

Meanwhile, Richie Foran, whose Inverness team moved off bottom spot and above Hamilton, has expressed hope his side can go on an extended winning run after the triumph.

Foran said: “It’s huge for us. To beat a side of the calibre of Rangers, a really good side, I am delighted for the players and the supporters. Rangers have been written off in the last few weeks. There is a lot of confusion at that club. But they still have good players. But we stood up to it and put bodies in front of the ball.”