WARBS PAL EXITS GERS
Warbs on brink as talent spotter McParland’s set for Rangers exit ahead of cup crunch
MARK Warburton’s future as Rangers manager has been placed in further doubt ahead of the Scottish Cup clash with Morton this weekend.
The Englishman’s position has weakened in recent days following the 4-1 defeat to Hearts and draw with Ross County that saw his side drop to third place in the Premiership.
Sunday’s fifth-round tie with Jim Duffy’s side had been seen as make-orbreak for Warburton, but the imminent departure of Head of Recruitment Frank McParland has raised more questions about his situation at Ibrox.
McParland agreed a move to Rangers in October 2015 as he stepped
down from his role as Sporting Director at Burnley to be reunited with Warburton and assistant manager David Weir.
The trio had previously worked together at Brentford and were responsible for taking the Bees into the Championship play-offs as a number of players were recruited for modest fees and sold for several million pounds.
Warburton described McParland, the former Liverpool Academy Director, as “one of the very best, if not the best, in the business” last summer as Rangers embarked on the second phase of recruitment ahead of their return to the Premiership this term.
The policy in the transfer market has been called into question, however, with Warburton’s side languishing 27 points adrift of Old Firm rivals Celtic in the top flight and behind Aberdeen, who also have a game in hand, on goal difference.
Warburton was flanked by Weir and McParland at a board meeting at Ibrox last month as the transfer strategy was examined following the arrival of 11 players in the summer.
The most high-profile acquisition, midfielder Joey Barton, made just eight appearances before a training ground bust-up with Warburton led to his suspension and subsequent exit from the club after he received a six-figure pay-off.
Other signings, such as £1.8 million striker Joe Garner, Niko Kranjcar and Philippe Senderos have failed to make an impact, while midfielder Jordan Rossiter, who cost £250,000 in compensation from Liverpool, has spent several months in the Auchenhowie treatment room.
After seeing his track record scrutinised in the stands and the boardroom, McParland is now set to head for the exit door and put Warburton’s future at Rangers in serious doubt.