‘Worrying times’ – BBC pundit delivers damning verdict over Rangers board in manager hunt
BBC Scotland pundit Michael Stewart thinks any prospective new manager will have “serious reservations” about Rangers after seeing how Graeme Murty has been treated by the Gers.
The Light Blues have confirmed Murty’s departure as first-team manager and Stewart believes it is “worrying times at Ibrox.”
Murty’s departure looked to be imminent after Sunday’s 5-0 Old Firm thrashing by Celtic handed their bitter rivals a seventh successive Scottish title.
Stewart also took a shot at Gers chairman Dave King for “delivering very little” of what he has promised since sweeping to power at Ibrox in 2015.
“Murty has been treated appallingly by the Rangers board. They gave him the job, because he did well enough for them to be able to sell it to the fans without a revolt and more importantly to buy them time,” Stewart said on his personal Twitter account.
“Now after many incidents of being undermined he’s gone.
“Yes it he isn’t the answer long term, but the board have used him as a pawn and now discarded him.
“In the process completely undermining their challenge for 2nd spot, £500k difference between 2nd and 4th can’t be sniffed at by Rangers.
“Any prospective new manager must surely look at the way Rangers are being run and have serious reservations. Dave King has promised a lot, delivered very little and unless he complies with the takeover panel he could be in serious trouble. Worrying times at Ibrox.”
Murty’s departure means Jimmy Nicholl and Jonatan Johansson will take the side for the remaining three games of the season.
Liverpool icon Steven Gerrard loks set to take the reins in the summer with ESPN reporting that a four-year deal is on the table for the 37-year-old Liverpool youth coach.
The Light Blues face Kilmarnock at Ibrox this weekend before back-to-bak away games against Aberdeen then Hibernian.
Football Insider verdict:
What an absolute shambles. If the Rangers board are trying to make the Light Blues look like an attractive proposition for any prospective new manager they are doing a stellar job of making a mess of it. The appointment of Jimmy Nicholl and Jonatan Johansson for the final three games is a surefire sign of a board that doesn’t have the first idea what it is doing and is now appears to be making decisions based on what will bring hassle from supporters. Saturday’s clash with Kilmarnock at Ibrox is almost certain to have an incredibly tense atmosphere as fans rapidly lose patience.
In other Rangers news, Dave King must improve his offer to Gerrard after an English club joined the hunt to appoint the Liverpool icon.
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