MURTY: I’D BE CRAZY TO TURN DOWN GERS

Murty admits top job at Ibrox would be tough to reject

GRAEME MURTY admits he would be crazy to turn down the chance to be Rangers manager if he was offered the position by the Ibrox board.

And the interim Light Blues boss insists any potential appointment should grab at the chance to succeed Pedro Caixinha in the dugout.

Murty will take charge of the Gers against Partick Thistle this afternoon after marking his return to the touchline last weekend with a win over Hearts.

The 42-year-old has been hesitant to promote his case for the top job but knows it would be too good a chance to reject.

Murty said: “I don’t think [it is too big a

stage for someone to take their first steps as a manager].

“This is the first and last time I will use the name [Zinedine] Zidane. He hasn’t done too bad in his first managerial job.

“I will not ever compare myself to him. Ever. Managerially or footballwise. I don’t in any way, shape or form compare myself to him.

“But I think the right person is the right person, regardless of when they get the job.

“If the board said: ‘Graeme, it’s yours. Take it.’ Fantastic. Great. I might even crack a smile!

“You would be crazy to turn this job down. For all that it’s a high-powered and high-pressured job, and very much in the media spotlight, I have said before that this is one of the stellar jobs in British football.

“You can’t turn it down. As I couldn’t turn it down when the board said to me: “Would you step up?” You cannot turn that down.”

After the failed tenures of Mark Warburton and Caixinha in recent years, the Ibrox board are under pressure to ensure they get the right man for the job this time out.

Many would view it as a poisoned chalice as Rangers attempt to gain ground on Celtic and return to the top of the Scottish game.

But Murty insists the position of Rangers manager remains one that will be coveted as the Light Blues continue on the road to recovery.

He said: “But those are people who aren’t on the inside. And who don’t see the fantastic people we work with every day.

“They can have their opinions from outside. That’s fine. But those people who don’t see what goes on in here every day should be wary of using such sweeping terms.

“This is a fantastic football club. Whoever gets this job will be a very, very fortunate person.”