The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
Murty laughs off talk of full-time application
Rangers: Interim boss reckons higher-ups already know his worth
Graeme Murty is feeling more “content” in his role as Rangers caretaker manager but does not feel he should need to apply for the job on a permanent basis.
The club’s development coach is looking to secure a hat-trick of Premiership wins since Pedro Caixinha was sacked when Hamilton visit Ibrox today.
Murty had been given no update on the recruitment search before his prematch media conference but Rangers look set to step up the process early next week. The club declared seven days earlier they expected more applications for the post by the end of this week and would then draw up a shortlist.
Murty is in his second spell in interim command and he revealed he had not applied for the top job.
“I don’t think I should have to,” he added. “I’m a Rangers employee, what role I have at the club is up to people far, far above me. So that will be down to them to choose. As far as I’m concerned, I’l do my best at whatever job they see fit to put me in.”
Murty is in regular contact with director of football Mark Allen, who is spearheading plans to compile a list, although Aberdeen boss Derek McInnes remains the clear favourite.
But he will not make any public case to push himself for the job despite securing two wins from two games.
“It gives me confidence within my daily work,” Murty said of the results. “It doesn’t give me confidence to go out and shout my name from the rooftops.
“It just gives me that assurance that I can impact players at this level. And that’s what’s necessary.
“You need to be on the training pitch. Clarity is key and the players need to know what your ideas are, you need to be confident at putting that over. And the more I do this job, the more support I get from the board, the more support I get from the players, the more readily I can do that with them, the more free and open I am with them and the more confident they are with me.”
Hamilton could have several players back for the trip to Ibrox.
Grant Gillespie played 90 minutes for the under20s in midweek following a lay-off while both Ali Crawford and Georgios Sarris are back in training following knee injuries.
Massimo Donati is back in contention following suspension while Shaun Want is making good progress in his return to fitness.