The Northern Irishman has done a fine job at St Johnstone but could he repeat the trick with Rangers?
While Rangers fans took issue with the stubborn refusal to alter tactics and the questionable recruitment policy, there remained a nagging concern among supporters that Mark Warburton wasn’t fully aware of the size of the job he had landed in 2015.
“I’m still not sure if he got to know the size of the club,” former Gers goalkeeper Cammy Bell told the Scottish Sun. “Rangers is a worldwide institution with a great history.
“But even at the end I still wasn’t convinced he understood how big it was.”
According to Herald Scotland, the 54-year-old didn’t even buy a house in Glasgow for fears that he would not be around for the long-term. And, per the Daily Record, he referred to September’s Old Firm clash with Celtic as ‘game number five’ in the fixture list and ‘another three points’. They lost 5-1.
There’s an argument to be made that he never fully embraced the us-against-the-world spirit or the relentless expectation associated with one of Britain’s most illustrious clubs.
However, St Johnstone boss Tommy Wright, who admitted to the Scottish Sun that he would discuss the managerial vacancy with Rangers chiefs if the opportunity arose, appears to understand and appreciate the huge burden on club to get results at all costs.
“The pressure is on Rangers because they are expected to be challenging for second,” Wright told the Press and Journal ahead of Wednesday’s clash between his current club and his potential new employers.
“We are doing great to be only six points behind them. So the pressure is all on Rangers: they are at home, they have had a few bad results, their fans will be demanding a response.”
Clearly the 53-year-old knows the demands facing the club at all times. He understands the stature of Glasgow Rangers, the attitude of the supporters and the fact that second simply isn’t good enough.
Whether Warburton had the same awareness is open for debate.
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