Tavernier signing contract proves Rangers on right path according to Murty

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The Rangers boss has opened up on his decision to reward Tavernier with the captains armband, citing it is part of the player’s development

Graeme Murty has had his say on emerging Rangers stalwart James Tavernier and his decision to reward the 26-year-old with the captain’s armband in a recent game against Ayr United.

Speaking to PLZ Soccer, the Rangers boss explained that handing the right-back the chance to lead his team was simply the next stepping stone on Tavernier’s path of development, as well as a reward for his consistent performances in a Rangers shirt.

Murty was full of praise for his stand-out performer, stating his belief that the Rangers fan-favourite is the best player in his position in the country, over the likes of Celtic’s Swedish international Mikael Lustig and Aberdeen’s Shay Logan.

Tavernier’s consistency was not only rewarded with the opportunity to skipper his side, but with a new contract to keep him at the club until the end of the 2018/2019 season.

On the right-back’s contract extension, Murty stated that he believed Tavernier’s decision to stick with the club is stonewall evidence that the club is moving in the right direction.

“I believe that James has areas of development,” Murty told PLZ Soccer.

“The reason I have him the captaincy against Ayr was that I wanted to reward him for consistently, I believe, being the best player in his position in the country.

“But also, I wanted to challenge him, not only to think about his game but to look as his role as a leader of men.”

Rangers have been lacking the traditional characters around the dressing room such as a Barry Ferguson or a David Weir in recent years, but with the emergence of the likes of Tavernier, the club finally looks like restoring some pride to the shirt.

Murty’s decision to reward the full-back with the captaincy is a massive statement of intent by the manager, but also a representation of the new-look Rangers side, with Tavernier as the figure head.

Things are definitely looking on the up for the Ibrox club, and Murty is doing terrifically well to put his hand up as a genuine candidate to lead the club forward beyond the end of the current campaign.