Murty has been hung out to dry by Rangers - Mcculloch
Former Rangers captain Lee Mcculloch claims Graeme Murty is being “hung out to dry” by the Ibrox board after the impasse over the club’s managerial vacancy went into a second month.
After winning the first two matches since Pedro Caixinha was sacked, caretaker Murty has presided over defeats by Hamilton and Dundee.
The club’s development coach looks set to remain in charge for a double-header against second-placed Aberdeen, whose manager Derek Mcinnes last week insisted he saw his future at Pittodrie following weeks of speculation linking him with a return to Ibrox.
Mcculloch said: “I don’t think it’s very fair on Graeme Murty. He’s a fantastic coach. “Yes, the fans are shouting for a manager to come in and I think there should be one in, but I also see it from the other side where Graeme Murty is sitting in that high-pressure seat and being hung out to dry a bit.
“But I think the fans just want some clarity on who the targets are, if they have got any targets, and who they are ruling out.”
Lee Mcculloch believes the Rangers board have made a mistake in not appointing Derek Mcinnes as their new manager.
He insists they will have some explaining to do when they address shareholders at Thursday’s annual general meeting.
With no approach made for the Aberdeen manager, both he and Pittodrie chairman Stuart Milne put on a united front last week insisting he had no intentions of leaving.
Mcculloch is surprised Mcinnes was not the preferred candidate of Dave King and his directors.
He said: “He does tick the boxes and that’s why I said they should go for him a few weeks ago. It’s the AGM on Thursday and I’m sure all the questions will be answered.
“The fans are getting a bit impatient and rightly so. I feel sorry for Graeme Murty who is a tremendous coach who did well the first time around.
“I think he has done well this time too because he is dealing with a squad which is low on confidence right now.
“The results haven’t gone his way recently, but I know he will be in every day trying to get the best out the players.
“He said he was interested in the job which put more pressure on him. He hasn’t got the results in the last two games and maybe now he is in a nowin situation but I’m sure he will relish the experience from being in the hot seat.”
The former Rangers skipper believes there is now pressure on the board to deliver.
He said: “It is important Rangers get it right this time. They went outside the box with Pedro Caixinha and it didn’t work, so it’s so important they get it right.
“They need a strong finish to the season now. The fans have backed the club, the board and the team and it’s time they got something to shout about. Getting a new manager in sooner rather than later will help with that.
“I think certain people need to take responsibility and come out say, ‘This is where we are at and this is what we are planning to do’ – or not planning to do.” l Lee Mcculloch was speaking at a Tesco Bank Football Challengeeventatcalderwood Lodge Primary School, Newton Mearns.