When he needed his backing most Graeme Murty has been let down by Walter Smith.
Defeats from Celtic and Kilmarnock have been tough enough for the rookie Ibrox boss to handle but since the loss to Killie the criticism seems almost orchestrated.
The Monday morning newspaper columnists dismissed his chances of getting the job on a full time basis with Alex Rae joining that chorus.
Although he appointed Ally McCoist as his successor then served as a non-executive director under Charles Green Smith’s opinion still matters inside Ibrox.
Murts has been gushing about the joy he felt after being granted an hour long chat with the manager who won just six out of 36 Champions League group matches despite having teams funded by Bank of Scotland and various tax scams.
The appreciation isn’t quite mutual with Smith lukewarm at best in his assessment of caretaker Murty.
WATCH
Walter Smith says Graeme Murty has brought “a certain element of progress” at @RangersFC. #SSN https://t.co/KBHo6Px6GH— Sky Sports Scotland (@ScotlandSky) March 20, 2018
Speaking to Sky Sports the doyen of dignity said: “You’ve got to say there’s been a certain level of progress.
“I don’t think there’s been the level of consistency that you’d want but probably with all the turmoil that has gone on over the last few years, that’s maybe to be expected.
“For Graeme, all he can do is try his best and see what happens at the end of the year.
“He’s never been promised the job, he has come in and he has settled down the team to his credit but like everything else, at the end of the season it will be determined by results.
“If you’d have asked a fortnight ago, everybody would have said he had a fair opportunity to become the manager.”
Ten days ago, before facing Celtic Murty had the job in his hands having exposed Brendan Rodgers in two matches at Celtic Park and signing four jewels on loan during January.
Now he is responsible for five of the seven home defeats that are going to make selling season tickets very challenging for the club’s PR operation.