GRAEME MURTY, the Rangers manager, admits he would ‘love’ the chance to be part of Dave King’s blueprint for the future of the club as the pair meet to discuss the chairman’s vision tonight.
Murty was put in charge of first-team matters until the end of the season after impressing during two interim spells in the dugout over the last 12 months.
South Africa-based King is currently in the country and is set to meet with the man who was previously the head coach of the Rangers Under 20’s this evening.
And, speaking after his side returned to second in the Premiership with a 2-1 win away to Ross County thanks to a first-half shot from Daniel Candeias that Aaron McCarey failed to keep out and a first Rangers goal for Jason Cummings late on, Murty says he is relishing the prospect of getting to know King ahead of potentially landing the job permanently in the summer.
“He’s going to tell me his vision for the club, how he sees us going forward,” he said. “And I’m interested to see it.
“I know where we want to go. I’m interested to see if we have a time scale, interested to see what – if any – business dealings will be done.
“I’m probably even interested in what kit we’re going to be wearing next year. The same things all the fans are interested in.
‘It will be a good opportunity for us, away from the hurly-burly of the game, to actually sit down and really get to know each other.”
Murty added: “I’m a part of it until the end of the season.
“I’m sure if I do a really, really good job of it, we’ll have another discussion.
“Until then, I’m really relaxed. I’m thrilled to have the prospect of managing this group of players.
“If I can be a part of it going forward, I would love to.
“But that’s depending on me doing a really, really good job.
“It’s the same with any manager. I have to do my business properly to actually make that decision for them. If I do that, fine.
“If not, the chairman – as has been shown before – has to safeguard the club and make sure we move forward.
“And I’m all for that. Because this football club is on the right path to where we want it to be.
“I want to be a part of that.”
Reflecting on the result which hoisted Rangers back into second and 11 points away from Celtic, Murty praised the impact of substitute Cummings, the on-loan striker who came on to grab the all-important second with 82 minutes gone.
“I told him before he went on to go and get me a goal because we had just started to come under a bit of pressure,” Murty said. “He had a little bit of moan at Daniel Candeias for not laying him the ball. And he goes and finishes like that. You know what you’re going to get from him, and from Alfredo as well. We have finishers at the club, we have options, and I think you saw bits from us that were very, very good.”
Cummings’ winner sparked a mini pitch invasion as dozens of Gers fans spilled onto the pitch to join the striker’s celebrations.
The incident could yet land the Ibrox side in trouble but Murty can understand the jubilant reaction.
He said: “Our support is phenomenal. They get excited, they want to celebrate with their heroes and Jason was the hero for them today. Obviously the players’ safety has to come first.”
Owen Coyle, meanwhile, bemoaned Ross County’s bad luck as the Highland side were left frustrated once again by a referee in their defeat to Rangers.
The home side were 1-0 down with 20 minutes to go when Ross Draper’s header seemed to hit David Bates on the arm, only for Steven MacLean to say no penalty.
Cummings scored soon after before County eventually got a spot kick in injury time, when David Ngog smashed a shot blocked by Russell Martin’s hand at close range. Ngog netted the penalty but Rangers held on.
The County manager couldn’t hide his frustrations afterwards as he said: “They were both penalties - but the one that wasn’t given looked an even bigger penalty.
“Draper has the header and it’s on target. If it doesn’t hit his hand, it’s possible a goal.
“That’s huge.
“You know instantly when four or five players appeal that it’s a penalty, but it wasn’t given.
“I spoke to the fourth official about the first penalty claim.
“Steven is a good referee but John Fleming [SFA head of referees] has spoken me after the last two games to apologise for mistakes by officials.
“Will he phone me again? That one is probably more difficult in respect of the distances between players.
“I like to be fair and I try not to be biased in terms of my assessment.
“We are not hiding behind decisions.
“We have to take that on the chin and pick ourselves up.
“We need to be ready to go and deliver again.”
With 17 points, Ross County remain six points adrift at the foot of the Premiership table but Coyle remains positive after coming up just short against Rangers.
He added: “Momentum changes quickly and when it does, we will be the team in the ascendancy, winning points and getting to where we want to be.
“We will be the team winning and we will put a fright up one or two.”
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