In an interview with the Daily Mail, former Rangers manager Mark Warburton has hit back at his critics amongst the club’s supporters and claimed that he wasn’t given enough time at Ibrox.
The 57-year-old was at the helm between 2015 and 2017 and helped the club return to the top-flight by winning the Championship in 2016.
However, the Gers failed to compete in their first season back in the Premiership and he left in early 2017.
Whilst in charge, he was widely criticised for having no ‘plan B’ in terms of his team’s playing style, and he’s since been accused of not understanding the magnitude of the club or his role.
“It’s not about lacking ambition, it’s not about not understanding the size of Rangers or what the club is about,” Warburton told the Daily Mail when looking back to his tenure. “I am not a fool. I got a lot of abuse about not getting it. I got it. Of course, I know how big the club is. But I also know football. We are going to smash Celtic? Financial logic tells you that is not on.”
Then, when asked about his controversial departure from the club, he added: “We weren’t given a chance. It was frustrating.”
“You never walk away from a club like Rangers, you never resign from a club like Rangers.”
Verdict
At this point, Warburton is fighting a losing battle if he thinks he can change the entrenched opinions of much of the Rangers support.
While it is under different circumstances, with Steven Gerrard now at the helm and driving the club forward both on and off the pitch, some of the now QPR boss’ failings are clearer than ever.
He came close to securing major silverware for the club but ultimately fell short with the painful 3-2 Scottish Cup final defeat to Hibs in 2016.
This weekend, Gerrard is looking to deliver in a way Warburton ultimately failed to, by getting over the line and securing a trophy in the form of the League Cup.
