I have no issue with BT, insists Warburton

MARK WARBURTON has denied he has any issue with BT Sport — despite his non-appearance for a scheduled post-match interview at Inverness last Friday. The Rangers manager irked the broadcaster by failing to show up for the contracted piece following his team’s 1-0 win. The matter was taken by the station to be retribution for critical comments made towards Warburton by their pundit Chris Sutton. The former England striker had criticised the Ibrox manager for team selection and tactics, and also questioned his abilities in the role. In advance of the game in the Highlands, the channel was informed that a scheduled interview with a player — believed to be goalkeeper Wes Foderingham — had been cancelled. Such interviews aren’t part of the contract between the broadcaster and the SPFL, but post-match chats are. The impasse prompted BT Sport to this week seek redress with the SPFL after what they believed to be a breach of the terms of their agreement. But Warburton yesterday flatly denied that his no-show was indicative of any wider issue with BT Sport. ‘Have I spoken to them?’

asked Warburton. ‘I do speak to BT Sport. I speak to Sky. I speak to all of them. I had a couple of things I had to do. Sometimes you are busy. ‘If a team loses and a manager berates his team for an hour and TV is off the air, it is just that the manager is in the dressing room having a screaming match with his team. I had a couple of things I had to do. ‘I did the media and I went back in. ‘Suddenly, it is that I have a personal spat with BT Sport. I haven’t. I think I have always been good with BT Sport, always done the interviews before, always done the interviews after, always done what I had to do. Again, I look at these headlines with despair because they are looking for stories where there aren’t stories.’ Asked about Sutton’s criticism recently, Warburton claimed that he would only listen to people who he respected. Former Celtic striker Sutton this week hit back by accusing the Rangers manager of being ‘petulant’. But Warburton is adamant he has no problem with anyone expressing an opinion — provided it’s done in the right manner. ‘I am big on respect, and people might mock it,’ he added. ‘I said to the players this morning what my first words were on day one. If a session is really poor, I have no problem with you knocking on my door and telling me, just do it in the right manner. ‘I have no problem with people having opinions at all.’