Rangers fans remain in the dark following mysterious disappearance of manager...

[ian1964 10,457]

... Mark Warburton.

 

*Roddy Forsyth

 

Mark Warburton finally issued a statement on Wednesday concerning his abrupt departure from Rangers last week, but any supporters seeking clarity about the chaos at Ibrox will still be scratching their heads.

 

Issued via the League Managers Association, the statement was essentially a reprise of Warburton’s previous insistence that he did not resign as manager on Friday, nor did his assistant, David Weir, nor the club’s head of recruitment, Frank McParland.

 

The statement read: “Much has been said over the last few days relating to our departure from Rangers. At this stage, for legal reasons, it is inappropriate for us to comment in any great detail on our departure from the club.

 

“However, given that the club has seen fit to make detailed public statements, it is important that we should clarify certain matters and, as such, we would like to formally place on record, that at no stage did we resign from our positions at Rangers.

 

“It is a matter of surprise to us, and to the League Managers Association, which is advising all three of us, that despite its detailed public statements, the club has not answered key questions put to it by the LMA, in writing, requesting an explanation of why it suggested that we resigned from our positions.”*

 

However, rather like Sherlock Holmes and the instance of the dog that did not bark, what was immediately striking was the absence of any reference to Rangers’ insistence that an agent acting for the trio – understood to be Dave Lockwood – asked for a meeting with the Ibrox managing director, Stewart Robertson, and that the meeting took place on Monday of last week.

 

Lockwood was the representative who negotiated the management team’s initial contracts with Rangers and also Warburton’s improved deal last summer.*

 

Nor is it disputed that the agent declared that the three wanted to quit and requested that Rangers should waive their right to compensation from their next employers. At that time, the position of manager at Nottingham Forest was vacant, but it was filled by Thursday last week and, whether coincidentally or not, it was at that point, according to Rangers, that the agent again approached the club, this time to report that his clients no longer wished to tender their resignations.

*

Telegraph Sport contacted Lockwood, via his agency, but have had no response.

 

It is understood that the proposal put by Lockwood at that stage was that the management team should be paid monthly until the summer, at which point they could leave, with Rangers getting no compensation.

 

The implications of such conversations are clearly debatable in terms of employment law and will undoubtedly form the basis of legal claim and counterclaim between Rangers and the erstwhile management team, should the matter go to court. However, given that the club claim to have evidence that the three had been complicit in trying to move back to England for some time, if true, then the affair is not likely to go the distance.

 

For those Rangers fans who had become disenchanted with what they construed as a lack of development, with only five points taken from a possible 15 in their five most recent league games, there will have been scant consolation from the rest of Warburton’s statement, which read: “For all three of us, it was an absolute privilege to be given the opportunity to work at a club that is so rich in tradition and history. It was an honour to be given the responsibility of returning the club to the top tier of Scottish football and we are very proud to have played our part in successfully securing promotion back to the Scottish Premiership.

 

“For all three of us, it was an absolute privilege to be given the opportunity to work at a club that is so rich in tradition and history. It was an honour to be given the responsibility of returning the club to the top tier of Scottish football and we are very proud to have played our part in successfully securing promotion back to the Scottish Premiership.”*

 

The League Managers Association declined to make any further comment when approached by Telegraph Sport. Meanwhile, it is understood that Rangers are very unlikely to appoint an interim manager this week and that Graeme Murty, the under-20 coach who oversaw the William Hill Scottish Cup fifth-round victory over Morton at Ibrox, will again be in charge when Rangers meet Dundee at Dens Park on Sunday.

 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2017/02/15/rangers-fans-remain-dark-following-mysterious-disappearance/

[Bearman 9]

"Mysterious disappearance of manager..."

 

He disappeared after Scottish Cup semi at Hampden last season, now that is mysterious!

[boabie 230]

What is the mystery ?

Rangers say he resigned.

Lockwood couldn't be contacted.

 

See you in court.

As an alternative, sue Lockwood.

[colinstein 294]

got to be honest here

I think the troika would not have been seeking other employment unless they'd been given the nod they were on their way out

I'm sure a compromise will be reached

[Gribz 743]

Its all too very quiet with regards to the agents actions.

[Bearman 9]

got to be honest here

I think the troika would not have been seeking other employment unless they'd been given the nod they were on their way out

I'm sure a compromise will be reached

 

We really are taking one step forward and two steps back...just what 50,000 Rangers fans need right now with Celtic wiping the floor big time in Scottish Football. No!

 

Our only hope of ever stopping that domination is to welcome someone with loads of dosh (Red Bull) who pick the manager rename the club RB Rangers Ibrox becomes Red Bull Arena then go on to dominate the game in Scotland and take Europe by storm as is.

 

The alternative is depressing for me an auld bear reaching (far reaching) the echoes of DEATH! Selfish? Yes!

 

We are so far behind in the powerful nation of Scottish football it's become embarrassing.

[barca72 440]

Oh, calm down.

Have you seen any of their games this season? How many games have they won by the odd goal and how many crazy decisions have gone their way?

They really are not that good, it's just that the rest of us are crap.

Our team are capable of playing good football and winning games but since the 'Barton incident' we have not been convincing.

A good manager and a couple of good buys and all this goes away next season.

[ranger_syntax 3,795]

We really are taking one step forward and two steps back...just what 50,000 Rangers fans need right now with Celtic wiping the floor big time in Scottish Football. No!

 

Our only hope of ever stopping that domination is to welcome someone with loads of dosh (Red Bull) who pick the manager rename the club RB Rangers Ibrox becomes Red Bull Arena then go on to dominate the game in Scotland and take Europe by storm as is.

 

The alternative is depressing for me an auld bear reaching (far reaching) the echoes of DEATH! Selfish? Yes!

 

We are so far behind in the powerful nation of Scottish football it's become embarrassing.

 

Comments like that are embarrassing.

[MacK1950 2,250]

It's the insanity of worrying about 10 in a row that annoys me I don't give a toss all I want is us to get back to the top as and when we can.

[cooponthewing 1,139]

We really are taking one step forward and two steps back...just what 50,000 Rangers fans need right now with Celtic wiping the floor big time in Scottish Football. No!

 

Our only hope of ever stopping that domination is to welcome someone with loads of dosh (Red Bull) who pick the manager rename the club RB Rangers Ibrox becomes Red Bull Arena then go on to dominate the game in Scotland and take Europe by storm as is.

 

The alternative is depressing for me an auld bear reaching (far reaching) the echoes of DEATH! Selfish? Yes!

 

We are so far behind in the powerful nation of Scottish football it's become embarrassing.

 

Bearmans comments imo are not embarrassing. They represent how many fans feel. The state our club is in at the moment and the circus around us, is embarrassing.

Also we do need serious investment and the only mooted taker(ok it was a rumour) has been Red Bull.

The mhanks are winning the league at a canter and will do so every year unless we have a substantial cash injection. They have won a few games by the odd goal however they can step up a gear when the feel like it.

Problem remains though, there is no sign of investment soon or even in the medium to long term?

Edited February 16, 2017 by cooponthewing