Monday 27 February 2017 16:05, UK
Rangers interim boss Graeme Murty has described those criticising the board for not yet appointing a full-time manager as “ill-informed”.
The Gers have fallen nine points behind second-placed Aberdeen in the Premiership following consecutive defeats to Dundee and Inverness and Murty, the club's U20 coach, will take charge of his fourth match on Wednesday when Rangers host St Johnstone.
It is understood the club are closer to appointing a director of football and that could be confirmed this week, with Southampton's head of scouting and recruitment Ross Wilson linked with the role, but Murty has backed the board's right to take their time over a long-term managerial appointment.
"I would say (criticism) would be ill-informed rather than unfair because people tend to criticise when they don't have full knowledge of all of the facts," he said.
"I don't have full knowledge of all the facts so you will notice I don't give massively full answers but I think people without knowledge of all of the facts should be very careful in what they are saying.
"I think we have to respect the club's wishes and make sure they get it right. If we appoint quickly, and get it wrong, it would be much more damaging. So we have to be respectful of the board's wishes, to go through their process, do their due diligence, and get the right person in place.
"I've been told the process is ongoing, interviews are taking place, and someone will be appointed. I don't know when it will be."
Murty has admitted he is not enjoying being thrust into the hot seat, although he is relishing the chance to gain experience and claimed he would ask to be replaced if he felt he could not help the team.
"It's not about me, it's about the football club and the players," he added. "I'm here to facilitate the players playing well, hopefully, and making sure they know what they need to do on a match day. I'm here fulfilling the role I was asked to do.
"I'm content to look in the mirror and say that the practices we put on, the work that we're doing, is of a good standard, it's what the players need.
"If I felt I wasn't being impactful to the players, I would feel more than comfortable going to the board and saying: 'You need to replace me'. As it happens, the board have been fantastically supportive, all they are asking me again is: 'Can we help you?'
"But I think if you look at the Inverness game from the Dundee game, there was a definite impact, the players responded really, really well and there was an improvement in our performance levels.
"I reiterate, however, that we need to get points on the board to make sure that all people see that this is a positive and a step forward for the football club."
