Warburton fell out with Rangers after board failed to land this pair in January – reliable journalist
By Matt Farr
The heavily-strained relationship between Mark Warburton and the Rangers board finally reached breaking point due to a transfer window fall-out, according to a reliable journalist.
Daily Record correspondent Keith Jackson wrote in his Monday column that the board’s refusal to sanction moves for two of Warburton’s top transfer targets last month – Reece Oxford and Jonny Hayes – was the final nail in the coffin for the former Ibrox chief.
Warburton was dismissed from his post as Rangers manager on Friday evening, following an ill-fated 18 months in charge.
Jackson claims that their refusal to back him in the final few days of the transfer market showed a complete breakdown of trust in his ability, and why his time at the club was essentially over.
The 54-year-old had wanted to further strengthen his side by bringing in versatile young defender Oxford on loan from West Ham, as well as a move for Aberdeen winger Hayes – who would have cost a fee of around £1million.
However, with Oxford joining Reading and Hayes remaining at Pittodrie, Warburton was hung out to dry by Dave King and the Rangers board.
Jackson wrote in his column for the Record: “The fact the board were not interested in facilitating either of these deals is critical to the narrative of Warburton’s demise. At that moment there was nowhere left for this relationship to run.
“Having highlighted problems within his team, King and his men then denied him the opportunity to fix them. It was at this point – when all remaining trust had gone – that the divorce ought to have been cemented and made official.
“It was no longer a case of IF Warburton was going to go, just a matter of when and in what circumstances.”
Results aside, one of the main criticisms of Warburton’s tenure was his poor signings – hence the decision not to back him in last month’s transfer window.
Working alongside head of recruitment Frank McParland, who was also dismissed from his post, he brought in as many as 19 new players.
However, very few have proven to be success stories at Ibrox, with several, including Joey Barton, Matt Gilks and Maciej Gostomski having already quit the club.
In other Rangers news, Martyn Waghorn has revealed why the players found it difficult under Warburton.
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