Since losing to Kilmarnock on Saturday Graeme Murty might have been excused for thinking he had stumbled into a Lepar colony.
Most of his old friends were looking the other way, seemingly afraid of telling the Sevco boss some uncomfortable home truths.
The learning exercise that was a 3-2 defeat to Celtic was bad enough, when the players failed their own development targets at home to Kilmarnock there was a distinct change in attitude.
Walter Smith and Alex Rae have quickly distanced themselves from Murts, respect seems to be reserved for others with the former Reading utility man getting the sort of treatment that drove Paul le Guen and Pedro Caixinha out of office after less than a year as manager.
Support or even understanding for Murts has been thin on the ground but another loser decided to raise his head this morning.
Mark Warburton launched Goingfor55 with the help of Joey Barton and Pip Senderos, when you are up against the odds the backing of the former city trader must seem like another curse.
WATCH
On @SkySportsNews this morning- Former @RangersFC manager Mark Warburton looked at his time at the club, adding Graeme Murty to the coaching staff and @WindassJnr form. https://t.co/G1BLA6Smfw— Sky Sports Scotland (@ScotlandSky) March 21, 2018
“Graeme’s come in and he’s earned the respect of the squad,” Warbo told Sky Sports. ” He’s got the crowd on side and he’s done a very good job.
“As I say, if you’re going to give Graeme that chance, be patient with. I keep repeating expectations – that’s the key.
“If the fans think he’s going to immediately challenge Celtic next year and, if he’s not sack him by Christmas, you’re going to have the same old problems.
“Give the man a chance, give him the time, give him the backing, verbally and financially, to manage a club of that stature.”
Perhaps if Warbo had shown Celtic some respect and brought Barton into line some of the expectations around Sevco could have been kept in context.
Instead the former city trader bought into every aspect of the tribute act only to be informed that he had resigned with Sevco trailing Celtic by more than 20 points.
Since being found out and exposed at Ibrox Warbo has also been sacked by Nottingham Forest putting in doubt his prospects of one day managing England.
