Rangers need some stability, says caretaker manager

GLASGOW: Rangers caretaker manager Graeme Murty says the Glasgow giants need some stability at the club after they slumped to a 2- 1 defeat to Inverness Caledonian Thistle.

It was the second loss in a week to forget for the Gers after Dundee downed them by the same score at Dens Park last Sunday.

The Ibrox club have won just one of their past seven matches in the Scottish Premiership and they remain six points behind second-placed Aberdeen.

When asked whether he would consider applying for the job that Mark Warburton vacated a fortnight ago, Murty said the defeat had left him too down to discuss it.

“I have gone through loads of emotions and now’s not the time for me to look at that,” the Under20s coach said.

“I’ll take my time to reflect on this personally away from here as it’s too raw at the moment.

“As long as the board inform me that’s the case I’ll keep on doing what I’m doing but I think the players need some stability.

“They need something they can hang their hat on. But as long as I’m asked I will continue to do the role.”

Despite the Glasgow giants being without a win in their past four league matches, Murty insists confidence is not an issue at Ibrox.

“I think when you look at the guys it takes confidence to play and get into those areas. Some of our approach play was really good and our combination play was excellent,” the former Scotland international said.

“But I just think that we need to be clinical and make sure that we take our chances and limit the opposition.

“We created lots of chances and opened them up but we need to be clinical in both boxes and we weren’t and we’ve been punished for it.

“Unfortunately at the end of each half we have paid the price. But as I said to the players in there, I couldn’t ask for them to apply themselves any more.

“The way they started, the tempo they played at and the things they tried to do with the football were great.

“But when you’re down life tends to give you a bit of a kicking and they’re feeling like that right now.

“It leaves a very, very bitter taste in the mouth.

“Regardless of how well we play and how well we do, thousands of people and ourselves come away from here scratching our heads, feeling bitterly disappointed and feeling a little bit sorry for ourselves.”

There is little time for Rangers to lick their wounds before they face St Johnstone at Ibrox on Wednesday.

“I’ve got no doubt that people will be writing us off again,” Murty added.

“But it’s my job to try and pick the players up and making sure the team that goes out on Wednesday are fully focused and ready to go.” — AFP