Warburton wants to give Rangers fans something to sing about

Bearman · August 1, 2015

THE message is simple but effective and has already worked once to great effect for Mark Warburton. Rangers fans think he is magic, and Warburton is determined to give them more to sing about.

The new Ibrox boss has become an instant hit with supporters and the 6-2 win over Hibernian last weekend only further endeared him to a fan base that has been rejuvenated over the summer. Footage of a Warburtons loaf brandishing punter on the streets of Leith last weekend, belting out a song about the Englishman and a magic hat has become an internet hit with Gers followers.

It may only have been a Petrofac Training Cup tie, but the performance and the result gave those in the stands another glimpse into what Warburton is doing from the touchline. The visit of Peterhead to Ibrox this afternoon is a third chance for this remodelled Rangers side to catch the eye and Warburton is eager to give fans another reason to be cheerful.

“I have no share in the (Warburton’s) revenue, I can assure you!,” he joked. “I’ve got a 21-year-old son who keeps me updated on everything that’s going on. Yes, I’ve heard the song but I don’t have a magic hat.

“It’s great, but supporters being supporters, you have to make sure you maintain that consistency. You don’t want to be up here one week and down there the next. It’s about us recognising what we have to do to keep the people happy.

“That will be on our wall in the changing room. There will be a sign saying: ‘Send Them Home Happy’. If we do that it shows we are taking our work from the training ground into the match arena and are delivering a level of consistency, week in week out.”

There may have been areas of disappointment for Warburton as his side started slowly in the Capital before turning on the style and hitting the goal trail, but there were few reasons for fans to feel frustrated after a six star showing. Supporters have bought into the Warburton way as they have been impressed with the new arrivals and new approach against Burnley and their Championship title rivals.

The early signs are encouraging for Rangers ahead of a campaign that has to be successful. So, is there more expectation from the stands?

“Not at all. We have to channel it in the right direction,” Warburton said. “We sold out our whole end, taking 3500-4000 fans there and we sent them home happy.

“The last message I gave them when we left the dressing at 25 past 12 was ‘send them home happy’. If we can do that week in, week out, we’ll be in good shape come the end of the season.

“That’s got to be the way. To make them happy, what do we have to do? We have to show energy, quality on the ball and a desire and commitment. You saw James Tavernier running 60 yards in the 88th minute and that tells the supporters you can have a really bad day - days when you can’t pass water - but if you give 100 percent effort, the supporters will respect you.”

If Rangers can continue to hit the heights of their Hibs triumph, both in terms of the outcome and the way it was achieved, the relationship between Warburton and the Ibrox fans will go from strength to strength. The bonds between the members of his squad will also improve over time as the new arrivals and the old heads look to combine and form one cohesive Light Blue unit.

It is Lee Wallace who guided Warburton’s side on the park at Easter Road as he wore the captain’s armband once again. Danny Wilson was one candidate to be named as skipper this season, but the man who lead Hearts to the Championship crown last season doesn’t need the title to perform and inspire.

“It doesn’t make much difference to me,” Wilson said. “When I came here and people asked me about the captaincy I always said that Ii would try to help whoever was captain because II know it’s not always easy.

“I don’t feel any different, I try to be responsible on the pitch and I enjoy responsibility but whether that is as captain or not doesn’t make a big difference to me. You want 11 captains on the pitch but it doesn’t always work like that. However, it’s important there are players who can help out and take responsibility and I’m one of them. It’s something I’m enjoying.

“Lee’s the captain and he’s doing a good job but it’s important other players help him and I think we’re trying to do that.”

http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/13523747.Warburton_wants_to_give_Rangers_fans_something_to_sing_about/?

Edited August 1, 2015 by Bearman

Bearman · August 1, 2015

Alan Halliday. Can't wait to see this player again on Sunday.

pete · August 2, 2015

Rangers boss Mark Warburton reveals he works around the clock at Murray Park

06:00, 2 August 2015

By Scott McDermott

EARLY rises and late finishes come naturally to former City trader Warburton as he tries to get Rangers back to the top.

PA Wire Rangers manager Mark Warburton tries to gee up his side

Rangers manager Mark Warburton tries to gee up his side

MARK WARBURTON is trying to reawaken Rangers.

And the only way he believes he can do it is by working around the clock at Murray Park – with a 6am start every day.

The new Ibrox gaffer is used to early rises, having been a City trader.

He might not have the London rush-hour traffic to deal with in Milngavie. But it doesn’t stop Warburton being the first guy in at Rangers’ training ground as he tries to reinvigorate the club.

The initial signs are good. So far, the Englishman’s methods appear to be having a positive effect on his squad. Warburton though isn’t getting carried away.

That’s why he’ll be back at Murray Park early tomorrow, preparing for the first Championship match of the season against St Mirren.

He said: “I’m in here at six-ish every day. Don’t forget, I’m still living in a hotel – my family are down south.

“So if I’m tired I go to bed. I work in here, go back, have a meal then go to bed. Six hours of sleep is fine for me.

“Thankfully, the gates at Murray Park are open 24/7. David Weir is usually here too. I’ve transformed him into an early bird – much to his disgust.

“At our old place, Brentford, it was largely because of the London traffic. But here I’m in a hotel so I get up early and go to work. When I was a City trader I’d get the 5.20am train, get in at 5.50 and then leave at 8pm. They certainly had their pound of flesh.

“Being in here at 6am is great because it’s so quiet. The first thing I do is have a cup of coffee.

“That time allows me to go through training, think about my team, the staff and analyse things.

“It’s nice and peaceful, as opposed to the noise when everyone gets here.

“This is a Champions League facility here. The layout, the quality of pitches, it allows everyone to integrate – and also for the first team to be separate.

“It allows the aspirational aspect to develop, where young players build up to the first-team dressing-room. I love that. You get that at Real Madrid.

“Do I get knackered? No, not at all. You have to look after yourself, of course. I have to live like the players do.

“So there are no heroics in me getting in here early. Some guys I know work until midnight.”

PA Rangers manager Mark Warburton salutes the fans at the end of the 6-2 Petrofac Training Cup win over Hibs

Rangers manager Mark Warburton salutes the fans at the end of the 6-2 Petrofac Training Cup win over Hibs

Warburton visited some of the biggest clubs in world football when he was involved with NextGen – the Champions League youth tournament he helped create in 2011.

But for all the glitz and glamour, what impressed him most were the global institutions who maintained a common touch. When he arrived at Ibrox this summer, many believed Warburton would rip the place apart and appoint all his own staff, from sports scientists to nutritionists.

But his experience in London’s stock exchange taught him that widespread change isn’t always the answer.

Warburton said: “For any manager or person in business, it would be a mistake to walk in and make too many changes too early.

“You miss the fact that you have good quality people already there. Our job here is to come in and assess what we have – look at the processes and procedures in place.

“That includes medical, analytical and logistical aspects. We know what we want and if we’re doing that already, fantastic. If we can tweak it, fine, but if have to change or overhaul it, that’s what we’ll do. There have been a few changes so far and we’re delighted with it.

“We’ve been using the pre-season games to test things like travel and pre-match meals, right down to the last detail. We have to know if it’s correct.

“But giving people who are already here a chance is the right thing to do. I learned that back in my old world.

“So often, people wouldn’t do that and we lost some good staff.

“There are good people at Rangers who are desperate for this club to move forward. I have to tap into that.

“It’s still early days. But I used to say to Uwe Rosler at Brentford, if we get sacked in the morning let’s make sure the club is in a better position than it was when we got here.

“That has to be the aim for myself and David, to make improvements by highlighting weakness.

“When I was involved with NextGen, it allowed me to see clubs such as

Barcelona, PSG, Inter, Ajax and Anderlecht.

“I took something from every trip. Sometimes you find out how not to do something.

“I want Rangers to be a very welcoming club. I would like to think anyone who comes here now as a guest will be warmly received.

“The staff have been tremendous to me so far and that’s important. I went to Liverpool and the first thing I got was a cup of tea.

“You remember that because the people there are so genuine. There are other places with magnificent facilities but no cup of tea.

“We played one team, whom I won’t mention, with superb facilities but we barely got a hello, never mind a cup of tea.

“I remember thinking that it was very sterile. There’s nothing like the warmth of a real big club.”

SNS Group Rangers manager Mark Warburton and his No.2 Davie Weir

Rangers manager Mark Warburton and his No.2 Davie Weir

So if Warburton gets it right on and off the pitch, can he get the club back to the same level as the ones he visited at the top end of European football?

That’s the final part of a three-year plan which will start in earnest against St Mirren on Friday. And after seeing 22,000 fans turn up for a friendly in his first game against Burnley, he’s convinced it’s a realistic target.

He said: “Coaching in the Champions League would be a fantastic opportunity. But we have to take it one step at a time. We’re bedding in new players and plans.

“We want Rangers to be recognised as being good in every aspect. It will take time but the Champions League has to be our target.

“That night against Burnley, 22,000 fans made a great noise. I said to David, imagine what this would be like with 50,000 for a European game. But he has already experienced that.

“My aim is to make sure we enjoy those nights again.

“I couldn’t get that at Brentford. A sell-out at our place was 12,000 and you get double that here for a friendly.

“It’s quite incredible. The support at Rangers is magnificent so I need to make sure they go home happy from the game every week.”

pete · August 2, 2015