IT IS little over a week since Graeme Murty was, much to his surprise, asked to take temporary charge of the Rangers team until an interim manager was appointed.

However, the pressure of being the man responsible for the on-field fortunes of the Ibrox club has not taken long to take its toll on the under-20 coach’s life.

Just how much the role was occupying his mind was driven home to the former Reading and Scotland defender earlier this week as he attempted to enjoy some quality time with his family.

“All I’m thinking about is the next game,” said Murty. “I had a day off on Thursday and walked round Loch Lomond with my wife, my daughter and goddaughter.

“Half an hour into a walk round a lovely part of the world I’m thinking about formations, I’m thinking about shape, I’m thinking about tweaking things. What happens if we lose the ball? What happens if we lose the game?”

Murty played for Reading for 11 seasons, two of which were in the Premier League, and has worked as a youth coach at Southampton, Norwich and Rangers since retiring seven years ago.

However, the 42-year-old admitted that addressing senior professionals for the first time had been daunting.

He said: “I’m looking at players like Kenny Miller, who I played with, and thinking: ‘Is someone of that status going to listen to me?’ “But they will listen to me if they think I can help them win. If they don’t I might as well walk out now. I haven’t had that feeling yet which is a positive for me.

“They are looking for clarity and structure and a clear message. What they don’t want is a muddy message. That is what I have endeavoured to give them this week.”

Murty has worked under some renowned coaches during his career – including the late Tommy Burns, Steve Coppell and Mauricio Pochettino – and revealed that he had been inundated with offers of support from both north and south of the Border since being promoted.

“The development I’ve had as a coach and the people I’ve worked with has helped,” he said. “You can’t fail but take something from them. Some real good names have told me to pick the phone up to vent, talk or decompress and I’m grateful for that.”

Despite the trepidatious moments which Murty has experienced since being phoned out of the blue last Friday night, as he sat watching a Glasgow Warriors game, he appreciates the opportunity which he has been given by Rangers greatly.

He moved to Glasgow last year because he wanted to work at a club where he would be under more intense pressure to succeed and to determine whether his future was as a youth coach or as a manager. He is certainly getting the chance to do both those things now and is grateful for that.

“My wife would say that I’m lucky already although I’m not sure I agree with her,” he said. “Seriously, though, I feel incredibly lucky and very honoured that board have trusted me with the position. I’m just embracing the experience and trying to get as much learning and growth as I can”

Murty’s next challenge comes tomorrow at Dens Park in the Ladbrokes Premiership and Dundee striker Henrik Ojamaa thinks he and fellow striker Marcus Haber are forging a partnership that can cause teams problems – much like when he linked up with Michael Higdon to great effect at Motherwell.

“Michael’s technique for a physically big player was very good and I think it’s the same case for Marcus.

“At first sight you think: ‘Is this going to be a big physical centre-forward?’, which he is. But he also has the other side to his game, he has a good touch and can bring others into play.”