The 54-year-old’s sudden departure leaves Rangers managerless and, for the moment, directionless.
Rangers forward Martyn Waghorn might not have enjoyed the best working relationship with Mark Warburton but that did not mean he expected to see the 54-year-old leave the club suddenly last week, the Daily Record reports.
Despite sitting a humiliating 27 points adrift of runaway leaders Celtic, coupled with presiding over a transfer policy and playing style that left fans divided, Warburton’s departure was met with a great deal of surprise from fans and neutrals alike – especially with a lack of inspiring alternatives on the market.
And Waghorn, who started only eight league games as he struggled to win over his manager, admits that the squad were taken aback by the abrupt end to the 54-year-old’s relatively brief reign in charge.
“I found out the same as everyone, through Sky Sports and social media. It was a shock to everyone,” the 27-year-old told the Daily Record.
“We just had to deal with it. We went in the next day and the situation was explained to us and that was it, time to move on.”
It still feels somewhat impersonal that a squad discover their manager’s fate via a mobile phone app rather than a personal message or at least a heads up from an official within the club.
Nonetheless, with the demands for instant success in the modern game shortening the average managerial tenure by the season, the majority of players will be more than accustomed to the process involved when a coach is replaced.
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