Graeme Murty determined to seize his chance at Rangers
Graeme Murty admits he must make himself "irreplaceable" if he wants to keep the Rangers job beyond the summer.
The Ibrox board have finally confirmed Murty as Pedro Caixinha's long-term replacement 57 days on from axing their former boss.
The caretaker manager has been told he will remain in charge until the end of the season, with managing director Stewart Robertson admitting he is in "pole position" to land a long-term deal.
The former Reading and Scotland defender has made no bones of the fact he wants the job on a permanent basis.
But he knows that will only happen if he can eradicate the mistakes that have already seen his side slip up against Hamilton, Dundee and St Johnstone since taking up interim command two months ago.
He said: "It's my job and the players' job to make ourselves irreplaceable.
"I've always said you must aspire to be the best you possibly can be. If I do the best job I can hopefully I make it relatively simple for the board moving forward.
"This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to work as manager at Rangers. You don't just want do it for a short period of time. If I'm good at it and stand out hopefully I can get to do it for longer.
"That's my aim - to improve and move my career forward."
Gers initially made it clear they wanted Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes to clear up the mess left behind by Caixinha but their approach ended in embarrassment as the Dons boss decided to stay put.
However, Murty appeared unconcerned by suggestions he was the Light Blues' second choice.
"Derek made a decision we fully respect," he said.
"I now have an opportunity because of that to manage a wonderful club."
The under-20s boss - who was also handed the Gers reins on a temporary basis following Mark Warburton's Ibrox exit back in February - admitted there was "no way" he could turn down the offer to extend his current nine-game stint in charge.
But he confessed he is making the step up into first-team management far earlier than he could ever have predicted.
Murty will now oversee the club's January recruitment drive and plans to hire a new coach to assist him over the coming months.
"It is a daunting task but it's my task now," admitted the 43-year-old.
"I've got a set term I can work towards and I'm thankful for the opportunity.
"It's up to me now to make sure at the end of the season we're moving forward. This is happening for me far earlier than I thought it would but it's an unbelievable opportunity for me now. That's what I want to view it as and one I want to grab with both hands.