Rangers are in fine form under manager Graeme Murty.
Former Rangers hero Mark Hateley has told The Scottish Sun that he thinks manager Graeme Murty is in some way similar to club legend Walter Smith after an impressive run of form.
Rangers racked up another league win on Tuesday night, as James Tavernier, Josh Windass, Sean Goss and Alfredo Morelos all found the net in a 4-1 away victory at St Johnstone, making it six wins in seven league games.
The Gers have cut the gap – even if only temporarily – at the top of the Scottish Premiership table to just six points, giving Celtic a little more of a scare than they would have expected under Pedro Caixinha.
Rangers were going nowhere under the Portuguese boss, and after being snubbed by Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes, youth coach Murty was handed the reins until the end of the season.
Murty’s record now stands at 15 wins in 21 games, losing just five times as Rangers manager, whilst bringing back their identity with a number of Scottish players joining the club during the January transfer window.
The 43-year-old may be a rookie, but Rangers are undoubtedly better with him at the helm than they were under Caixinha, leading many to believe that the former Scotland defender should be made permanent Rangers manager this summer.
Now, former Rangers hero Mark Hateley has praised Murty, claiming to The Scottish Sun that he is somewhat similar to Rangers legend and former manager Walter Smith in that he is staring the club in the face as being the next permanent manager.
Hateley added that he is a huge fan of Murty in part due to his work with the youth setup at Ibrox, meaning he knows the club inside out and knows all the young talents coming through the ranks, which is vital to Rangers’ long-term success.
“I like what Graeme’s doing,” said Murty. “It’s a bit like Walter – the answer is under your nose sometimes. Sometimes you just don’t see it. When Walter came in, everybody went, ‘Walter?’ He was an assistant at Dundee United, assistant to Graeme and the rest is history. Walter understood the club. He knew what was expected from the players through the fans, with Walter being a supporter all his life. It’s the same way now – especially when you’ve got Jimmy Nicholl there. He knows the club inside out. He knows the ethos of the way the club should be portrayed and all that sort of stuff.”
“I like Graeme a lot. He’s a young man who’s played at a decent level and he has the knowledge of the game and an understanding of the game. I like him because he’s been down with the younger players, which is great for where this club is going. He knows the 17s, below the 17s and the 20s – he knows what’s coming through. That’s good for the club. I think Mark Allen is doing a fantastic job along with Graeme, Craig Mulholland and the guys at Murray Park. These guys are identifying young players and bringing them through. It’s the way forward,” he added.
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