Warburton tells Rangers to be patient over Murty
The former Rangers boss gives his opinion on the current one
Mark Warburton says Rangers need to be patient with Graeme Murty or they'll suffer the "same old problems''.
Warburton believes expectation levels at Ibrox are need to be measured as Rangers struggle to challenge Celtic, who are currently on track for their seventh league title in a row.
Murty has been given until the end of the season to prove he has what it takes to be Rangers manager on a longer-term basis after stepping into a caretaker role twice last year, at first replacing Warburton after he left in acrimonious circumstances, and then when Pedro Caixinha was relieved of his duties after seven months at the helm.
Optimism was high among the Rangers support following a six-match winning streak earlier this year, but consecutive defeats to Celtic and Kilmarnock prompted jeers at Ibrox on Saturday following a seventh home defeat of the campaign.
Warburton told Sky Sports News: "Graeme's come in and earned the respect of the squad and got the crowd onside and done a very good job.
"If you are going to give Graeme a chance, be patient with him. I keep repeating 'expectation', that's the key.
"If the fans think he is going to immediately challenge Celtic next year and if he's not, sack him by Christmas, then you are going to have the same old problems.
"Give the man a chance, give him time, give him the backing, verbally and financially, that he needs to manage a club of that stature.''
Rangers finished 39 points behind unbeaten Celtic in third place last season with the gap now 10 points with the leaders boasting a game in hand. Aberdeen and Hibernian are challenging them for second spot and Warburton has warned it will take time and money to challenge the champions.
The former Brentford and Nottingham Forest boss said: You have to recognise, and I have to be careful what I say for the Rangers fans, that Celtic have been in the Champions League for the last few years. They have done well to get into the group stages and with that comes financial rewards. And all that does is increase the gap between Celtic and Rangers.
"Every year you are fighting to close that financial gap. And the longer Celtic are exposed to Champions League football, the greater the financial divide becomes.
"So Rangers need investment and they need to dampen some expectation and build the club back up. Because it is an outstanding club, there is no doubt it's a football institution and it was an absolute privilege to manage up there.
"But you have to be patient with it and be honest with the fans and give them clear communication. They are aspiring to get back to the top of Scottish football but it will take time and will certainly take investment.'