Today's MW press conf

[BEARGER 1,830]

[Bearman 9]

Rangers boss Warburton brands summer speculation over his Ibrox future "bizarre"

 

http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/14571348.Rangers_boss_Warburton_brands_summer_speculation_over_his_Ibrox_future__quot_bizarre_quot_/?

 

MARK Warburton, the Rangers manager, last night dismissed speculation about his future at the Ibrox club and confirmed talks about a new contract were set to resume.

 

Rumours that Warburton was set to leave, and had even departed, the Glasgow club have been rife this summer after it was alleged negotiations over an improved deal had broken down.

 

However, speaking at a 2016/17 league season preview event organised by the SPFL and its title sponsors Ladbrokes at The Kelpies in Falkirk, the Englishman described the conjecture as “bizarre”.

 

“I can’t control speculation,” he said. “I can’t control the rumour-mongers. I do think it’s inappropriate that someone can’t have 10 days away. I had to spend time with the family.

 

“The owner has been busy with a number of things to do with the club, doing great work, him and the board. We opened discussions and I’m sure they’ll continue, but there’s nothing more mysterious than people being busy or having a summer break.”

 

Warburton added: “I read contract talks have doubled my money. I read contract talks have broken down. I read contract talks were deep in discussion. Everyone was aware of things apart from me, and that’s the truth of it.

 

“You see these stories and they are quite bizarre. If the fans want to believe that I can’t control it. But if they hear it from my lips or David Weir’s, or the owner’s or the board, that’s different. But it’s all rumour-mongering.

 

“I had a holiday and if I’d taken any more phone calls on holiday I would have definitely been divorced. If you have domestic problems, this job becomes a nightmare so you have to allocate time to the family and then carry on from there.”

 

Asked if contract talks would continue, Warburton said: “I’m sure. But we are recruiting players, we are going away on Monday for a trip we have to get right. Then we have a bizarre League Cup programme. We play four games in nine days.

 

“We have a lot to prepare for. Players coming back, staff coming back, staff reviews, welcoming new players, players getting apartments. There is so much to do at this time of year.”

 

Warburton met up with Brendan Rodgers, who he worked alongside at Watford, for the first time since the Irishman was appointed Celtic manager yesterday and expressed confidence their friendship would survive the forthcoming campaign.

 

“I know Brendan and we get on very well,” he said. "I called him up when he got the job and I wished him well and he wished me well. I am sure we will share a glass of wine at some stage.

 

“We are good friends, but whatever happens, someone has to win and someone has to lose cups and leagues. Whatever happens, we’ll still be friends at the end of this process.”

 

Warburton was speaking publicly for the first time since the Scottish Cup final at Hampden – when several Rangers players were attacked by Hibs supporters as they made their way off the field at the end of the game.

 

He praised how the Ibrox club handled the pitch invasion at the end of a game his side lost 3-2. “There’s police cases going on so I can’t really comment, but I was very pleased with the way the club looked after the staff,” he said. “I thought Rangers acted tremendously well, very professionally.”

 

Meanwhile, Warburton refused to be comment on Rangers’ interest in Nico Kranjcar, the former Croatia midfielder who has been offered a two year deal and is set to undergo a medical in Glasgow today according to his lawyer.

 

“He (Kranjcar) is one of a number of players we have been linked with,” he said. “We are making progress on a number of fronts. I’m not talking about individual players. We have to do our business and when it’s the right time, we can announce it.”

 

Warburton confessed that he didn’t think Rangers would be able to sign Joey Barton, the former Manchester City and Newcastle United midfielder, and speculated the Ibrox club’s victory over Celtic in the Scottish Cup semi-final had helped to lure to Glasgow.

 

Asked if he thought the Championship winners had a chance of landing Barton, he replied: “Honestly? No. What persuaded him to come? Possibly his relationship with Frank (head of recruitment McParland) and conversations myself and David Weir had with him.

 

“But if there is one factor that weighed in our favour, it was the semi-final. Everyone I know in football watched it. They saw the passion of the fans, a good quality game, the coverage, everything. That, for me, was the deciding factor that made people decide they want to be part of that.”

 

Warburton admitted Cammy Bell, the former Kilamrnock goalkeeper who is in talks with Aberdeen about a move to Pittodrie, would be leaving Ibrox and he was hoping to bring in a replacement.

Edited June 21, 2016 by Bearman

[ian1964 10,761]

Simple message is,ignore the moon howlers!,they are shitting themselves!

[Waltersgotstyle 307]

What a great read

[Bearman 9]

Listening to/Reading Warbs is so enlightening today. He's got 55 on his mind...

[Frankie 8,665]

 

“I know Brendan and we get on very well,” he said. "I called him up when he got the job and I wished him well and he wished me well. I am sure we will share a glass of wine at some stage.

 

You'd think they'd have one each...?