THERE’S NO CRISIS HERE
From Back Page weekend and Robertson said: “There is no confusion or turmoil inside Rangers. There’s always been a clarity of purpose.
“A management team resigned and is about to be replaced after an intense and detailed process, which was absolutely necessary given the lack of progress on the playing front so far this season. We simply could not be hurried into making appointments which might not have been correct for the club’s long-term development.
“It’s important to remember just how far Rangers has come in a short period and to keep in mind that we’re still laying down foundations which will ensure a successful future. I’m confident the new manager and director of football will drive us towards that future.
“Our search has been narrowed down to a few outstanding candidates, who we believe possess the necessary skills and attributes. We’ve been deliberately forensic in our search, studying every detail of each manager’s character, his work and style and we’ve sought many references for those who stood out from the rest.
“Above all though, our next manager will be someone who understands that defeat can never be acceptable. Rangers is synonymous with winning and we’ll select a manager who is also a winner.
“Frankly, results must improve and so it is vital that we appoint soon. Doing so will also allow our new manager a few months to assess the current squad while formalising his summer recruitment plans. Again, the funds are there to support the new manager.”
Meanwhile, caretaker boss Graeme Murty insisted his under-fire Rangers squad silenced a few snipers by sinking Saints with 10 men.
He’s getting ready to step aside but hailed his team’s spirit after holding off a late fightback to earn his first league win.
Barrie McKay and Martyn Waghorn fired Gers ahead before sub David Wotherspoon pulled one back and defender Rob Kiernan saw red for a late lunge on Graham Cummins.
Steven Anderson hauled the McDiarmid men level with just three minutes left but Emerson Hyndman struck in stoppage time to fire the Light Blues back to within six points of secondplaced Aberdeen.
Murty said: “Now is not the time to be personally satisfied. I’ll have a cold glass of wine later on but I’m relieved for the players.
“The players have taken a bit of a shoeing in the past few weeks and they’re going out of here with a good result in difficult circumstances so I’m relieved for them. I’d like to pat them on the back.
“There’s a lot of emotions but the main one is relief that a group who thoroughly deserved the three points won.”
Murty refused to criticise ref Kevin Clancy for flashing Kieran red despite fury from the crowd but was pleased with his side’s response.
He said: “My reaction was to fix the problem. When I have a moment I’ll look at it but Rob made the referee make a decision. We had to live with it but the players responded well.”
Saints boss Tommy Wright was devastated his side failed to hold on.
He said: “We responded well and showed a lot of character but we should see the game out.” THERE have been times in recent weeks when it’s looked like Graeme Murty has been left holding a baby badly in need of a nappy change.
The poor caretaker boss could have forgiven for going ga-ga himself but as the new regime prepare to take over the man in the dugout was at least able to sample his first win. Quite a night it was too. It looked like the incoming director of football and head coach could skip the review of the season and just watch the DVD of this St Johnstone clash and they’d be fully up to speed.
Gers played some nice stuff, got ahead and then threatened to crumble.
But instead of the same old – this time the Ibrox men roared back to snatch a victory while it seemed to be sliding away.
Ermerson Hyndman notched in stoppage time to give the 10man Light Blues that winning feeling after a woeful few weeks following the messy divorce from Mark Warburton.
The problems at the club won’t be overcome overnight but at least the new arrivals might have something to work with.
None more so than Barrie McKay.
Whoever takes charge of this side will have a huge in-tray of issues to meet them but a new deal for the youngster should be bumped up to the top.
The 22-year-old grabbed a slick opener and Gers looked comfortable when Martyn Waghorn extended their lead after the break.
Well, as comfortable as this side can be.
Saints sub David Wotherspoon set nerves jangling when he netted with 16 minutes to go and then Rob Kieran saw a controversial red soon after to have fans reaching for the Pampers. When Steven Anderson pounced with just three to go to tie it up at 2-2 it looked like a point each.
But this time Rangers dug deep and pulled out a result to perhaps answer one or two of the snipers who have questioned their character in recent weeks.
This Rangers squad has taken some hefty flak in the wake of dismal back-to-back defeats to Dundee and Inverness.
Vulnerable. Fragile. Whatever phrase you want to suggest weakness, rival managers and players have thrown it at Gers of late, and instead of having words rammed down throats they’ve only been given more evidence to back up their case.
Murty has been trying to give them a shake and said the right things but it has seemed to fall on deaf ears at times as on the pitch the team has wilted. There needed to be a reaction – and this time there was.
But in some ways the same thing could be said of Saints. Boss Tommy Wright ripped the paint off the dressing-room wall at the weekend after the Killie defeat and demanded a response, ready to play on any hint of frailty.
There wasn’t too much early on though.
Right from the off there was a bit more of a dig about Rangers, more of a determination. Perhaps it was the promise a new man was finally in sight or just a sense of wounded pride.
But whatever caused the jolt it had the desired affect.
Hyndman lashed an effort just wide inside the opening minutes after Waghorn had done the spadework to make space in the box.
Jon Toral fluffed a free header off target and Hyndman went