Graeme Murty's first game in charge of Rangers since it was confirmed he would be staying on until the end of the season ended in a 2-1 defeat to Kilmarnock and BT Sports pundit Chris Sutton did not hold back on his assessment of the managerial situation at the club.
Speaking on BT Sport 1 Sutton was typically blunt in his assessment of the Murty and the Rangers board:
I've got nothing against Graeme Murty, I don't think it was the wise choice at all, I think it smacks of desperation, it smacks of a club that don't seem to have any money. They have taken the cheap option, the easy option. I wish Graeme Murty well but he's not an experienced manager for me they needed an experienced guy to go in at the helm and Mark Allen seems to be the manager at Rangers and Graeme Murty seems to be powerless.”
Sutton contended that the Rangers board hadn't done anything good for the club since taking the helm. Rangers' statement on the appointment read as follows:
The club's directors believe Graeme has demonstrated he is capable of handling this task successfully and are confident the players will continue to respond to his leadership in a positive manner.
With so much still at stake in the current season this decision was not taken lightly but now that Graeme has been given full control he can work towards the obvious targets with greater focus.
The Glasgow club have been on a mission to save face after Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes turned down the chance to manage the beleagured Scottish side. Sutton argued that St. Johnstone manager Tommy Wright would have been the ideal man to help Rangers get their season back on track:
Tommy Wright would (have been) a really positive appointment. He's taken St Johnstone as far as he can on extremely limited resources and got so much out of his players. He's done an extraordinary job.
(Rangers) want someone who knows the league and knows all the players up there. So he would (have been) a pretty logical appointment.
Sutton wasn't shy in stressing his joy in the aftermath of Rangers' disappointing defeat to Kilmarnock.
.@btsportfootball A blue, blue Christmas for Rangers... Kilmarnock 2-1 Rangers.. Boyd at the double⚽️⚽️ The Murty gamble has started with a loss! Killie superb👊⚽️ Steve Clarke has transformed Killie👏👏
— Chris Sutton (@chris_sutton73) December 23, 2017
Rangers currently lie third on 36 points 11 points off of leaders Celtic.
