Mark Warburton faces an uncertain future at Sevco after the Daily Record warned him that Joey Barton may outlast him at Ibrox.
The mouthy midfielder is due to appear at an HR meeting today but with the security of a two year contract Barton holds all the aces.
Warburton however is looking increasingly isolated and vulnerable with the words from Paul Murray’s favourite newspaper sounding ominous for the former city trader.
Last night’s 1-1 draw at home to St Johnstone delivered a dose of reality to the fans who bought season tickets in anticipation of watching the title being taken from Celtic.
After shelling out £400 a pop for a ticket, back-tracking on expectations isn’t what the supporters want to hear with last night’s final whistle greeted with a chorus of boos.
Responding to that in the Daily Record Keith Jackson warns: “PERHAPS Joey Barton shouldn’t be too hasty when he reports to Ibrox today for his disciplinary hearing.
“If the opinionated Scouser can get through it without talking himself into even deeper trouble he might just outstay his manager –assuming that is if Barton makes it out of the HR office with the rest of his two-year contract still intact.
“Because the jeers that rung out around the place last night as another two top-flight points clunked on to the floor suggest Mark Warburton’s immediate future may now be this club’s main concern.
“Things simply are not working out the way they ought to be for Warburton who is languishing nine points adrift of Brendan Rodgers in the league having just been deservedly knocked out of the Betfred Cup by the Celtic boss too.
“Whichever way you look at it the Gers gaffer’s troubles are stacking up. And had Joe Garner not salvaged an equaliser last night – cancelling out Blair Alston’s stunning early opener – then Warburton might also have been dragged in this morning to plead for mercy. “
Sensitive Warbo hasn’t been slow to hit out at media critics in the past and is bound to be furious at the message in Jackson’s article.
In the final weeks of the Derek Llambias and Sandy Easdale regime at Ibrox the Daily Record had it’s media facilities withdrawn before being reinstated by Paul Murray as Dave King swept to power.
If the Record retains it’s media facilities for Saturday’s home match with Kilmarnock it will spell out an ominous warning for Warbo.
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