IT is not that long since there were a lot of Rangers fans saying ‘give Graeme Murty the job’.

The team were playing better and they were impressed with the signings that he had made.

There weren’t many complaints when he was bringing players in and there weren’t many complaints when Rangers were winning matches.

But the opinion on Graeme seems to have shifted after the back-to-back defeats to Celtic and Kilmarnock. That shows how difficult that Rangers managers’ job is.

I think, overall, he has done well but his lack of experience has shown at times and we know how the Celtic game unfolded.

There seems to be a change in the mind of a lot of supporters and they are calling for an experienced manager to come in. But where you get that experienced manager is another thing.

I think Graeme is still the favourite to keep the job at this moment in time but the board have to be considering all their options.

If Rangers don’t finish second in the Premiership or win the Scottish Cup then I think it is fair to say that Graeme’s chances would be very, very slim.

The board have to have a plan in mind if that does happen and they can’t afford for the situation to drag on and on and on like it did with Derek McInnes.

They have to draw up a shortlist and start sounding people out so that they have an option to pursue in the event they decide that Graeme won’t continue.

If it won’t be him, then an appointment must be made as soon as possible.

I do feel sorry for Graeme and whatever the call the board make will obviously have a huge impact on him.

If he doesn’t get it, does he go back to the Under-20s? Or does he could think ‘well, I have been in charge of a huge club and I want to continue as a manager’?

Does he wait for a job in Scotland or does he look in England? I have seen a few people mention Reading, where he spent a number of years as a player, as a possible move for him.

Even if Rangers decide he is not the man for them, I am sure he will be wanted by a club elsewhere in the game.

Graeme finds himself in an unenviable spot right now and Walter Smith summed that up when he spoke about a range of issues this week.

It is a difficult situation for the board but they are in the positions of responsibility and they are there to make big decisions, and right ones.

Sooner rather than later, Rangers need to decide whether Graeme will be the manager next season or not.

It can’t be a case of getting to the final day of the season and then thinking ‘right, what do we do for next year?’

There is planning to be done in terms of contracts, players coming in or going out, pre-season. And the time frame is so tight.

We know how important the Europa League qualifiers are for Rangers, and how quickly things can go wrong when you don’t go into those games in the best shape possible.

A lot of that work will be down to Mark Allen and he needs to sit down with the manager and discuss targets and start getting deals done.

But there is no point in having those conversations with Graeme if he is not going to be in the dugout.

It is a difficult, difficult situation for everyone involved but the board will have to make a quick and decisive call in the not too distant future.

Do they think Graeme Murty is the man for Rangers? Or do they want to pursue another option? It is a huge decision and one which they must get right.

If the fans don’t like the appointment, they will not be slow in making their feelings known.

The directors have made a lot of mistakes over the last couple of years when it comes to football decisions and they haven’t covered themselves in glory at times.

As Director of Football, Mark Allen will obviously have a big say in who the manager will be. But there are other figures around the club that can play a part in the process as well.

Speak to the likes of John Greig, Richard Gough, Mark Hateley, ask Walter, Ally McCoist and John Brown for their opinions.

You need to take on board the words of wisdom from people that have been successful at the club, people that know what it takes to be Rangers manager.

They don’t necessarily have to pick the next boss but you should get as many opinions as possible to build up a picture of what is required to lead the club.

Rangers is a huge family so they should ask the members of that family what they feel the best way forward is.

Soon, we will know what direction Rangers are heading in.