Derek Johnstone doubts Rangers interim boss Graeme Murty will get job permanently

Follow us on Google Discover

Glasgow Rangers coach Graeme Murty is currently enjoying his second spell in caretaker charge of the Ibrox side.

Derek Johnstone has told the Evening Times that while Graeme Murty deserves credit for the work he has done during his time as Rangers’ interim boss, he does not expect the under-20s coach to get the job on a full-time basis.

Murty is currently enjoying his second spell in caretaker charge following Pedro Caixinha’s departure from Ibrox last week, and got off to a flyer as the Gers came from behind to beat Hearts 3-1 at Murrayfield.

While there does not appear to be any suggestion that Murty is in the running for the manager’s job on a permanent basis, he is listed as the 12/1 sixth favourite on Sky Bet which just indicates that he is not being ruled out of the running either at this stage.

But while Johnstone has been full of praise for the job that Murty has done, he has predicted that the former Scotland international will not become Caixinha’s permanent successor.

“The players respect him, I think that was shown in the way they played, and the supporters have taken to him as well,” he told the Evening Times.

“So that buys the board a bit of time to make sure they get the right man in because they know that Graeme is more than capable of handling this in the interim.

“I don’t think he will get the job longer term. The club will be looking for a bigger name, and so will the fans.

“Graeme will know that but he will go back to his job with the Under-20s one day and he will continue to do that well, I am sure.”

While Murty may not seem the most inspired appointment if he does get the job permanently, there is no question that his stock has risen significantly because of the work that he has done with the first-team – he is, of course, the only Rangers manager to deny Celtic a victory in an Old Firm game since their return to the Scottish Premiership.

And while he may not be at the top of many wishlists right now, the support for him to be given the job on a more permanent basis – even if that is just until the end of the season – will surely grow and grow if the win over Hearts is a sign of things to come.