Even Derek Johnstone has started to question Graeme Murty’s future at Ibrox.
The former Rangers (IL) striker has made a media career of backing every owner, chairman, manager and player at Ibrox even when logic is shouting the opposite in his face!
Dave King, Charles Green, Dave Murray, Ally McCoist and Mark Warburton have all enjoyed the backing of Johnstone on Radio Clyde and in the Evening Times.
Two weeks ago Murty could have written his own terms to manage the tribute act but back-to-back defeats from Celtic and Kilmarnock has changed everything.
The shadow of Steve Clarke is being cast over the current Ibrox caretaker, if Celtic end Sevco’s interest in the Scottish Cup Murts can pack his bags overnight even if the only candidates to replace him are Barry Ferguson and Billy Davies.
“If Rangers don’t finish second in the Premiership or win the Scottish Cup then I think it is fair to say that Graeme’s chances would be very, very slim,” Johnstone warms in the Evening Times.
“The board have to have a plan in mind if that does happen and they can’t afford for the situation to drag on and on and on like it did with Derek McInnes.
“They have to draw up a shortlist and start sounding people out so that they have an option to pursue in the event they decide that Graeme won’t continue.
“If it won’t be him, then an appointment must be made as soon as possible.
“I do feel sorry for Graeme and whatever the call the board make will obviously have a huge impact on him.
“If he doesn’t get it, does he go back to the Under-20s? Or does he could think ‘well, I have been in charge of a huge club and I want to continue as a manager’?
“Does he wait for a job in Scotland or does he look in England? I have seen a few people mention Reading, where he spent a number of years as a player, as a possible move for him.
“Even if Rangers decide he is not the man for them, I am sure he will be wanted by a club elsewhere in the game.”
After getting his name linked with the Reading job it’s clear that the son of a Celtic fan is already making plans for when the Ibrox axe comes his way.
It seems that the convention of not speculating about a man currently in a job is just another Ibrox tradition that has fallen by the wayside.
