Joey Barton and Celtic fans are among the winners from Mark Warburton leaving Rangers.
Mark Warburton is no longer Rangers manager after the club confirmed he had left the club on Friday night.
Graeme Murty took charge for Sunday’s cup win over Greenock Morton, with a permanent replacement yet to be appointed.
Former Rangers manager Mark Warburton
Here is a look at five winners from Warburton’s exit…
Billy Gilmour
Graeme Murty’s temporary promotion saw teenage whizkid Billy Gilmour called into the Rangers squad for the weekend’s match.
The 15-year-old moved a step closer to becoming Rangers’ youngest ever player, a move which could help convince him stay at the club amid rumoured interest from English clubs.
Whoever the next manager may be, Gilmour’s progression has already been accelerated, and if Murty took charge until the end of the season, then even more chances could follow.
Kenny Miller
Rangers’ Kenny Miller celebrates scoring their first goal
Kenny Miller’s future at Rangers has looked unclear in recent weeks, with the Daily Record reporting he was in limbo, yet to hear if he would be offered a new deal.
Warburton was keen for Miller to be handed a new deal but was unable to convince the board to offer him one, who perhaps had their own reservations over whether the manager would be sticking around.
Bringing in a new manager will move Miller’s future closer to getting resolved, and if Warburton’s replacement too says he wants the veteran to stay, it will be hard for the board to resist offering an extension.
Celtic fans
All summer Celtic fans had to listen to Rangers supporters crowing that they were coming to reclaim their crown at the top of Scottish football.
Within months Rangers’ manager Warburton is out on his ear, and Celtic seem destined to wrap up the title by mid-March.
They could not have dreamed it up any better, and right now Celtic look further away than Rangers than ever.
While Warburton’s exit provides a fresh chance for Rangers, it only underlines the rapid strides Celtic have made this season, and fans continue to take great amusement in the Gers falling over their own feet in an effort to catch up.
Scottish football
Celtic’s Scott Sinclair in action with Rangers’ Wes Foderingham
Let’s face it, this season’s campaign has been a big disappointment for Rangers, who are 27 points behind Celtic at present.
Celtic’s dominance at the top of the division does not reflect well on Scottish football, and Warburton was not getting Rangers any closer.
Rangers moving on in a new direction should strengthen their resolve to challenge their rivals, and make Scottish football a lot more interesting the the neutral once again, if Celtic’s campaign is a little less of a procession next season.
Joey Barton
Controversial midfielder Joey Barton’s contract with Rangers was cancelled after just a couple of months, but what has happened since suggests he is better off out of it.
Rangers have been a shambles under Warburton at times, and while Barton has kept quiet since the manager’s departure, he will likely have taken amusement from the exit of the man he clashed with leading to his own departure.
Rangers’ Joey Barton looks dejected
The chaotic circumstances of Warburton’s exit and various statements issued by club and manager only underlined that all is not right at the club.
Barton’s exit came after a row with the manager after pointing out some home truths about the team’s inability to compete, and it seems he was not wrong.
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