Troubled Rangers cannot afford to stand still
GRAEME MURTY’S immediate reaction at time-up in Inverness, that of inaction and sheer bewilderment in the face of unfolding disaster, was a fairly accurate snapshot of where Rangers are as a whole. Glazed eyes fixed on the floor, jacket pulled up over his mouth, frozen in the madness of it all.
In the end, he turned round to Caley Thistle’s manager Richie Foran, a man full of the milk of human kindness after his first league win in 15 attempts, and reached out for a cuddle.
All Rangers fans must need hugs right now. The question is whether they have the gumption to re-emerge bearing their teeth and whether anyone is prepared to stand up for them in public.
Murty, hung out to dry by those above him, joins the likes of Mark Warburton, Joey Barton, Frank McParland and a swathe of the current playing staff in a list of gambles gone wrong.
Who knew that a youth coach, who clearly does not want to be anywhere near this maelstrom, would fail to get a collapsing season moving back in the right direction?
It seemed a natural move in the wake of Warburton’s chaotic departure for an experienced, interim manager to be brought in — with the likes of Alex McLeish, as stated here two weeks ago, a wise and available option.
The three seasons spent trying to get from the old Division Three to the top flight and failing were a waste of time and money.
The 18 months under Warburton have left a sparse legacy, too. The playing squad has no meaningful resale value and few individuals up to the task.
Rangers are at a crossroads. They must get it right this time and figure out precisely what the infrastructure of the club will be — even if it means waiting until summer to get all the people they want to build it.
However, writing off this season with Murty running the team cannot go on a moment longer. For the sake of the poor guy’s sanity as much as anything.
Developments with the directorof-football role appear imminent. There must be action on the coaching front before Wednesday’s visit of St Johnstone. There is still a Scottish Cup and a place in next season’s Europa League to play for, after all.
This is where the fan base may have to exert pressure. They helped chairman Dave King oust the former board and understand difficulties created by inherited contracts and the inability to stage a share issue. But gratitude for his involvement does not mean they must remain forever in his debt.
King and fellow director Paul Murray are not new to this. They were on the board as Sir David Murray was driving the club closer to the cliff edge and present in 2009 when a valid ‘We-Deserve-Better’ campaign run by the Rangers Supporters’ Trust had everything but the kitchen sink thrown at it by the powers-that-be.
Reporting on the meetings of the Supporters’ Trust was fun back then. They had a revolutionary spirit, a desire to hold the power base to account.
In the concerted effort to oust the board in 2015, they joined other organisations in an umbrella group designed to speak with one voice.
That has since become Club 1872. An independent organisation, it has its office at Ibrox Stadium and Rangers’ company secretary James Blair on its board of directors. He was elected democratically, but concerns over a conflict of interest seem valid. There are others involved with strong backgrounds in fan-based work. Yet, statements are issued by committee and, on recent form, they do not contain much meat.
Friday’s defeat to Inverness has surely hammered home the need for the post-Warburton inertia to be addressed, though.
Club 1872 have a meeting coming up with managing director Stewart Robertson. They have not issued details of their previous dealings, but they cannot be happy with the way their club is operating.
Public statements and punk spirit create pressure. Private chats in offices do not.
There are trips to Aberdeen and Celtic looming. In terms of city rivalries, this Rangers side, surely the worst to have represented the club in the top division, are already beginning to look like the Espanyol to Celtic’s Barcelona.
Naturally, it would suit the Ibrox board to have the one and only fans’ group under control. It is in their interests to make the relationship so, but that cannot possibly be the way of it.
Friction along the way will be necessary. No organisation should be permitted to run without its office-bearers being scrutinised. Rangers supporters, of all people, know that only too well.
One way or another, it is time for action.