Mark Warburton is under attack from within the blue room of unsurpassed dignity.
According to a report in Paul Murray’s favourite newspaper the former city trader was left in no doubt about Dave King’s thoughts on his disastrous summer signings and the return that the club was getting from their manager.
Warbo has remained diplomatic with his public comments about boardroom relations but has been left in no doubt that trailing Celtic by 22 points after 22 matches is unacceptable.
Three defeats from Brendan Rodgers side has highlighted the gulf between the clubs with assistant manager Davie Weir claiming that £100m wouldn’t guarantee that the gap is closed.
As well as being refused money to bring in new faces Warbo’s plea for new contracts for Kenny Miller and Clint Hill has been rejected with both players free to sign pre-contract agreements with clubs outwith Scotland.
Reporting on last week’s low profile board meeting the Daily Record reveals: “Warburton attended a board meeting last week and the manager may have been surprised at the level of hostility in that room as it quickly became a bruising affair.
“Dave King – who has only attended one Rangers game all season – flew in from South Africa especially to sit at the head of the table for that grilling.
“He was gone again before Warburton’s team won at Motherwell at lunchtime on Saturday but while the chairman shows very little interest in actually watching Warburton at work, his assessment of the manager’s signings is thought to have been brutal.
“King seems to deem his employee is underperforming and over-earning. Warburton could dispute both points.”
The Record adds: “If Warburton has now been given reason to suspect that his own bosses might be turning against him that would seem like a needless, senseless act of aggression by the chairman and his wing men.
“If he believes he has been treated unfairly then Warburton is likely to feel not only wounded but also enormously frustrated.
“If the board is either unwilling or unable to back him in the transfer market then he may wonder if there is much point in carrying on.
“Especially, given that Rangers are now relying completely on the manager’s extensive network of contacts down south to attract whatever short term fixes they can get their hands on.”
Warbo is hoping to complete the signing of Port Vale star Jak Alnwick but faces problems over the scheduling of payments with the English side concerned about Sevco’s ability to honour the staged payments.
Five years after being created by Charles Green the Ibrox club are still without an overdraft facility.