Rangers players must stick together, says Martyn Waghorn
Monday 27 February 2017 09:04, UK
Martyn Waghorn says Rangers players must stick together despite the ongoing uncertainty over the managerial situation at Ibrox.
The Gers fell nine points behind second-placed Aberdeen in the Premiership this weekend after suffering their second successive loss under caretaker boss Graeme Murty in the 2-1 defeat to Inverness.
Murty looks likely to be in charge again when St Johnstone visit Ibrox on Wednesday night as the search for Mark Warburton's replacement continues, but Waghorn knows it is up to the players to drag themselves out of a slump which has seen them win only once in seven league matches.
"It was a bitter pill to swallow on Friday but we have got to stick together," he said. "It's a frustrating time but we have to get on the training ground. The only way we can get out of it is to work hard, stay together and try to turn it round.
"It's only us that's going to do it, nobody else can do it for us. It's up to us as players to take responsibility and lead from the front.
"The players are together. It's obviously a difficult time not having a full-time manager but we are still the same squad. Murts knows the direction that we are going in, he's got everyone on board and it's us as players that need to take responsibility.
"We know what we have to do, it's just executing it, and on the day we weren't good enough in front of goal. The last two results are nowhere near the level that we should be at, but we need to rally and stick together as a team."
Rangers will be 12 points adrift of second place if Aberdeen beat Hamilton on Saturday afternoon but Waghorn has dismissed suggestions that the Premiership runners-up spot is already in the bag for the Dons.
"Not at all," Waghorn said. "We have got to play them again twice. It's obviously not ideal and we have a big challenge ahead and we know what we have got to do.
"It's going to be difficult but it's only us that can turn it around. We have got a lot of belief and a lot of good players in the squad. It's going to be difficult but never say never."
Rangers have been interviewing candidates for both the manager's job and a new director of football position. Southampton's director of scouting and recruitment, Ross Wilson, formerly of Falkirk, Huddersfield and Watford, is believed to be the club's preferred choice for the latter role.
Former Ibrox skipper Barry Ferguson became favourite for the manager's role among some bookmakers after resigning as Clyde boss on Sunday, but has had no contact from Rangers, according to Sky sources.
