Thursday 19 April 2018 15:51, UK
Hibernian boss Neil Lennon has leapt to Graeme Murty's defence insisting it is the Rangers players and directors responsible for their latest mess.
Gers boss Murty has found himself in the firing line following his side's humiliating 4-0 defeat to Celtic in last weekend's Scottish Cup semi-final.
Rangers then suspended club captain Lee Wallace and experienced striker Kenny Miller amid claims they undermined Murty during a heated post-match analysis.
As Rangers prepare to host Hearts on Sunday, Lennon said: "I think Graeme is in a really difficult position because he's been interim manager for what, five or six months now?
"What does that say to the players? 'Oh things are going well, so great'. But if things don't go so well? 'Oh well, he's not the manager'.
"Ultimately the buck stops with the manager but it's the same players that were under (Pedro) Caixinha and it wasn't Graeme's fault at the start of the season.
"So maybe those players need to look at themselves and say, 'I've not done enough this season'."
Murty cut a dejected and lonely figure as he stood on the Hampden sidelines unable to hold back the green and white tide crashing down on his side.
It is a feeling Lennon knows only too well after being sacked by Bolton.
And while Lennon's team remains in a race with Gers for second, it did not stop the Northern Irishman offering some words of advise to his rival boss.
"I'd dig in," added Lennon. "It's been a difficult week but being a manager isn't a bed of roses.
"You're going to have bad experiences. You're going to get the sack at some stage - that's probably a guarantee. But utilise the experience to your benefit and come out stronger."
Following the alleged dressing room bust-up, Miller will not play again for Rangers with his contract up in the summer and reports say Motherwell and Hibs could be set to offer the veteran hitman the chance to relaunch his career next
season.
On the prospect of making another move for Miller, Lennon said: "Kenny's a winner. He's 38 and still very fit. That's testament to being a very good professional - not someone who just chucks in the towel.
"We tried to get him at the start of the season as I like him a lot. But at the minute he's a Rangers player and the reports are just speculation."
