I only value the views of those I have an iota of respect for

THESE are testing times for Mark Warburton, unparalleled during his 15 months at Rangers. Scrutiny of his methods is intensifying. The almost universal praise that soundtracked his initial endeavours at Ibrox has been replaced by increasing criticism.

Chris Sutton has been at the vanguard of the attack, displaying the same powerful presence that marked his time as a Celtic striker.

Suggesting the Rangers job was ‘too big’ for Warburton, the BT Sport pundit delivered a scathing appraisal of the way in which Joey Barton’s training ground outburst had been handled.

‘Bad management on the pitch, bad management off it,’ claimed Sutton, speaking before the Inverness v Celtic match on Sunday.

He also gave witheringly short shrift to Warburton’s gripe about media coverage in the wake of a humbling 5-1 Old Firm defeat.

Yesterday, the Ibrox manager decided to return fire. While initially insisting he would not be drawn into a personal slanging match, Warburton made it clear he had no respect whatsoever for Sutton’s views.

Asked if he was offended by the comment about his suitability for the role, the 53-year-old reacted: ‘Offend me? Two things. One, as manager of Glasgow Rangers and as an individual, I am not going to get embroiled in spats with so-called pundits.

‘That’s not going to happen. I am not going to lower the position of the club.

‘I was always told that you only value the opinions of people for whom you have any iota of respect. Therefore, I have absolutely zero interest in that opinion.’

It will be a crowd-pleasing response. Sutton is hardly a popular figure among those who fill the Ibrox stands. The real problem for Warburton would obviously arise if those same people started to concur with an old foe.

Complaints are being aired. A glance on social media suggests the old unanimity has gone. But those same channels show many Rangers fans are still firmly behind Warburton, remaining positive that early-season issues will be overcome.

These coming few days could be instructive on that front. Tonight brings a Betfred Cup quarter-final against Queen of the South at Ibrox.

Sidestepping the banana skin presented by the on-form leaders of the Championship would grow confidence ahead of Sunday’s eagerly-awaited visit to Pittodrie.

Positive results in both games would go a long way to easing the sense of strain.

The flip side of the equation is obvious. Warburton saw signs of improvement in Saturday’s goalless draw with Ross County — the first game of Barton’s banishment, now extended by three weeks — but rejected any impression he had been happy with the outcome.

It left Rangers four points behind Celtic having played a game more. They have recorded only two wins from the opening half-dozen top-flight games.

Asked if he had discovered more about his squad from these toils, Warburton replied: ‘No, not really. I have learned more about outside the club than inside the club, if I am honest. I feel I have learned a lot more.

‘What do I mean about outside the club? The reaction. It is great when you are winning things and the Glasgow fishbowl is all very rosy.

‘I am not being in any way sarcastic, far from it.

‘It is just stating the obvious. Winning games of football, it is great.

‘When you are not winning games of football, you learn more about it. We have had a tougher start this year in terms of drawing a couple of games against Hamilton and Kilmarnock. It is interesting when you speak to some of the senior players who came here this year, the likes of Clint Hill and Niko Kranjcar.

‘They have been shocked by the intensity of the media, the scrutiny of the media. They have played at Premier League level or internationally and they have been shocked by it. But it is part of the learning curve. You are told about it, but you don’t realise until you come to Glasgow and are in it.’

Warburton, though, rejected any idea of using the criticism from Sutton and others to foster a siege mentality in the dressing room.

‘That has gone by 20 years ago,’ he stated. ‘It is about us recognising what we have to do. We want to win games of football and win trophies.

‘It is not unique to Rangers, but the expectation here is quite high and we have to recognise that and respond to it.’

Rangers won all four meetings with Queen of the South last season, but Warburton is mindful of the threat posed by a club clearly benefiting from the return of Stephen Dobbie.

‘They are high in confidence, they beat Hibs 3-1 at Easter Road and they won’t be fearful of a so-called bigger venue,’ said the Rangers manager, who has Philippe Senderos, Rob Kiernan and Joe Dodoo back in his squad.

‘I know they are going to be very organised, really hard-working, high in confidence, will pose a threat going forward and be defensively resilient.

‘It is up to us to break them down.’