GRAEME Murty is still the caretaker manager of Rangers Football Club. Nobody is more surprised by this than the man himself.
And, at this moment in time, tomorrow night’s home game at St Johnstone won’t be his last in the job. Nor will the Scottish Cup tie at Ibrox with Hamilton on Saturday. Let’s be honest, the guy who was appointed to coach the Under-20 team will be first man off the team bus at Celtic Park on Sunday, March 12.
The cynic would suggest the amiable and likeable Murty is a patsy thrust into the role so whoever will take over permanently isn’t in situ for a potential heavy defeat to Celtic, as Rangers continue to search for form and results.
“I wouldn’t have imagined getting the role in the first place, to be honest,” admitted Murty yesterday in that open way in which he operates.
“I’m a fairly modest guy. I’m prepared to go on behind the scenes and do my job as diligently as possible. I’ve been thrust into the spotlight a little bit. It is what it is. You have to deal with it, front it up and do the best job I can.
“I’m enjoying the fact I get to work with a fantastic group of players and a brilliant group of staff. The development I will get from this – and I have no doubt that will be vast – will come when I reflect upon this in calmer moments.”
It’s not just that Murty doesn’t have the necessary experience. It’s that he’s not been given any help when he really could do with someone standing beside him.
Another problem is that he’s been asked to take over a group of players who aren’t playing well, don’t react well to disappointment and lack leadership.
“I knew when I was asked to take the role that it would be difficult,” said Murty with some understatement. “I knew there would be times when I was the face [of the club] and I would be in the paper where people would say positive and negative things about you.
“And I was willing to do that at the start. It’s been difficult but I am still willing to do it for as long as they want me to. So I have put no time pressure upon them. I accept the amount of time the board will take to make their appointment.
“I did it freely at the start. I do it freely now. It’s not as if I’m demanding to be in the role. I am willing to fulfil the role as long as they want me to.”
So, when Mark Warburton left, did anyone take him to one side and say that this was the wrong move?
He said: “No. There are loads of people saying it’s too difficult. I have read the phrase ‘poisoned chalice’ in the paper. I am a young coach learning as I go forward. The opportunity to manage a football club the size of Rangers’ stature and history may never ever come again.
“The best advice I have received is to believe in myself and to trust in what we are doing.
“Do I believe in myself? That’s taken a bit of a knock. Do I trust in what we are doing as a football club? Absolutely. I trust in the processes that are being put in place. I trust in what is going on and that what we are doing in the long term will pay off.”
It was put to Murty that, despite the fact nobody blames him for what is happening, being “manager” of Rangers during such poor times might not help him in the future.
Asked if he thought that, Murty said: “If I was selfish about it probably. But I am not thinking about it. I reiterate I am just thinking about what the team needs. I can’t control what people conceive my CV to be.”
At least Murty is fronting up. Not everyone at Rangers is able to say that.
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