Rangers Q&A: Graeme Murty on the Old Firm fall-out, dressing room dynamics and his Ibrox future

Tomorrow afternoon, he will take to the Ibrox touchline for what is likely to be the penultimate time as he attempts to guide his side to victory over Hearts.

Here, Murty addresses the fall-out from the Old Firm defeat that has piled pressure on his shoulders and left supporters angry and disillusioned over matters on and off the park.

Read more: Rangers squad owe boss Graeme Murty against Hearts, says Declan John

YOU SPOKE TO DIRECTORS THIS WEEK. WHAT KIND OF SUPPORT DID YOU GET?

GM: I have had conversations with a few of them, I've been for a coffee, a sitdown and a chat. I also have the Director of Football in the office next door to me.

They're asking me if I'm okay, asking what I need, and it's greatly appreciated. It's been a difficult week.

WHY STAY? WHY NOT WALK?

GM: I've been asked to take charge of this fantastic football club until the end of the season. That has not changed.

If I thought it would become detrimental to the team to stay then we'd have a different conversation. At the moment I still feel I have a lot to offer.

We have shown something with the way that the team has played recently, with the results we've managed to get and the position we've managed to get to in the league. And I still believe I have something to offer.

I was brought in under the remit to stabilise and start to move forward - and leave the team in a better place than which I inherited it in. I still believe I can do that."

DID YOU SAY YOU'D STEP ASIDE IF YOU FELT YOU BEING HERE WAS BEING DETRIMENTAL TO THE TEAM?

GM: It's an ongoing conversation. We have to do what's right for the football club, the football club is bigger than any one person. I am an employee of the football club.

Read more: Graeme Murty confident he retains the backing of his Rangers squad after Old Firm fall-out​

I also love this place. I want to see this place do well. I want to see us continue to improve and get better. While I feel I can still do that then I'll put myself forward.

If that means I'm the person getting the flak then, hey, I've got broad shoulders. It's not nice but it's part of the job.

APPRECIATE YOU CAN’T GO INTO THE KENNY MILLER AND LEE WALLACE SITUATION, BUT WHAT CAN YOU SAY ABOUT DANIEL CANDEIAS AND ANDY HALLIDAY?

GM: Andy Halliday and Daniel Candeias are both human beings. Andy is desperately disappointed to be coming off the pitch early. He didn’t direct any dissent towards me to my face, but I don’t expect him to be happy coming off the pitching having been substituted that early.

I have spoken with Daniel afterwards. Daniel plainly wasn’t happy to come off. Speaking to him afterwards he said that he didn’t believe that he had done himself justice. He wanted to stay on. He was desperate to stay on and play in a big, big game.

DO YOU REGRET THE TIMING OF THE HALLIDAY SUBSTITUTION?

GM: As a human being, I regret the impact that it is going to have on Andy as a person. As a professional decision I needed to change the shape of the team and I needed to impact the way the game was going.

It might have been someone else, it was unfortunate it was Andy. I made a decision purely for footballing reasons.

DID YOU MAKE THE SUBSTITUTION AT THAT TIME TO BE SEEN TO BE MAKING IT?

GM: Not at all.

Read more: Rangers squad owe boss Graeme Murty against Hearts, says Declan John

WHY DID YOU MAKE IT THEN?

GM: Because I thought I needed to make it early. If I thought I could have waited to half-time I would have waited to half-time.

WAS THERE NOT ALWAYS GOING TO BE A CHANCE THAT IT COULD CREATE AN ISSUE WITH A PLAYER?

GM: If I based every decision on the fact that it might create an issue with a player I would never do anything. When I first came and sat in this chair I was told by some very senior people to trust my gut and go with the decision.

I made a decision and I went with it. It has had some repercussions. The player is not happy. I accept that. We have to move forward.

HAVE YOU SPOKEN WITH ANDY?

GM: We will.

YOU HAVEN’T SPOKEN TO HIM YET?

GM: I am giving Andy a bit of space at the moment. He looks a little bit raw. As a human being I respect his space. But before Sunday Andy and I will have a sit down and have a chat.

IT’S SURPRISING THAT HASN’T HAPPENED YET. YOU’VE HAD FOUR DAYS SINCE THE GAME. IS THERE AN ISSUE THERE?

GM: Possibly.

BUT IT IS AN ISSUE?

GM: If I had an issue with Andy in training we would bring it to a head. I don’t have an issue with Andy in training. Andy has focused in to training really, really well.

Read more: Graeme Murty confident he retains the backing of his Rangers squad after Old Firm fall-out​

I commend his attitude. I commend what he’s doing. I will address an issue with a player, as a person, at a time I consider appropriate.

WAS THE DECISION TAKEN OVER LEE WALLACE AND KENNY MILLER YOUR DECISION?

GM: I won’t discuss that. It’s an internal matter.

LEE WALLACE WASN’T MENTIONED AS BEING INJURED ON THE FRIDAY. AT WHAT POINT WAS HE UNAVAILABLE FOR SELECTION?

GM: Saturday. He was in the squad.

ON THE BENCH?

GM: That wasn’t decided at the time.

DID HE SAY HE WASN’T FIT TO PLAY?

GM: It was a conversation we had.

WERE YOU DISAPPOINTED?

GM: Lee’s had a long time out. You have to trust the athlete. If he says he’s not good to go, he’s not good to go.

AFTER THE GAME, YOU SAID YOU DIDN’T BELIEVE THE DRESSING ROOM WAS THE TIME OR THE PLACE TO ADDRESS THE PERFORMANCE?

GM: I didn’t at that stage. I left it after the game. You have to trust your gut. I thought ‘now isn’t the time’ because the emotion would come in.

Do you go in all guns blazing as I did at half-time at Motherwell? I didn’t think doing that would be appropriate. I didn’t think it was the right time so I wanted to leave it.

HAVE YOU NOW ADDRESSED IT?

GM: We’ve sat down and gone through it. Pedro never did it after the game. I know managers that do it after every game. It’s just how you feel at the time. And at that time, for those circumstances, I thought that was most appropriate.

Read more: Rangers squad owe boss Graeme Murty against Hearts, says Declan John

DO YOU HAVE A PROBLEM WITH PLAYERS HAVING A SAY AFTER A GAME?

GM: No. I’ve spoken to you guys about being inclusive and embracing the players’ opinions on the pitch. Because they are the guys who have to go and do it on the pitch. Players’ opinions are a vital part of the team learning and the team dynamic.

ARE PLAYERS ALLOWED TO HAVE THEIR SAY?

GM: Yes

ARE PLAYERS ALLOWED TO QUESTION YOU?

GM: Yes

NO PROBLEM WITH THAT?

GM: No

AS A PLAYER DID YOU EVER LET FLY AT A MANAGER?

GM: No

WOULD YOU EVER HAVE FELT IT APPROPRIATE TO DO SO?

GM: No

YOU NEVER HELD YOURSELF BACK?

GM: No

AS LONG AS THEY ARE RESPECTFUL?

GM: I feel as though I’m a fairly respectful, fairly affable person that treats everyone in the right manner. I would expect that kind of conduct back to me.

DOES THE UNCERTAINTY OVER YOUR FUTURE MAKE YOU WEAK WITH PLAYERS?

GM: I don’t know. I think you would have to ask the players about that. For me, I’m in the same situation as I’ve always been. When we are moving smoothly and playing well, there doesn’t seem to be an issue.

ARE YOU CONFIDENT YOU’LL SEE OUT THE FIVE REMAINING GAMES?

GM: Yes. I’ve not been told any different.

DID YOU OFFER TO RESIGN?

GM: No. My position has been and will always be that the club and the team come first. I’ve said to you on numerous occasions that it’s not about me, have I not? It will not ever be about me. I’m making sure that we as a club and as a team continue to move forward.

WHAT REACTION DO YOU EXPECT FROM THE IBROX CROWD?

GM: I don’t know. I’m hoping it’s a real positive one. I’m hoping that everyone gets 100 per cent behind us and pushes us forward. If it’s not, we have to deal with it and we have to be big enough to cope with whatever it is.