MARK Warburton, the Rangers manager, last night stressed the importance of the Ibrox board continuing to be realistic with the objectives they set his team.
Warburton was responding to suggestions that the relationship between him and Dave King, the club chairman and major shareholder, has become strained this season.
The two men spoke about how Rangers have performed in the Ladbrokes Premiership in the 2016/17 campaign and the success of the summer signings at a board meeting last week.
The Englishman, whose side take on Hearts in the league at Tynecastle tonight, admitted that “all relationships can get stronger and build”.
"You have discussions all the time,” said Warburton. "The communication line is myself and David (assistant manager Weir) in to Andrew and Stewart. The chairman's based overseas so that's what we do.
“It's important that there's honesty and feedback and respect in the relationship. We always give our opinions and we always fight our corner for the football department. That's our job.
“We have clear targets. Last year, the chairman rightly said that promotion was non-negotiable. The boys did it. Now we have to try to get into Europe.”
Asked if he was optimistic the Rangers board continued to take a realistic view of what was achievable on their budget, Warburton said: "I very much hope so.
“We're building now. We're in a different pond to Celtic right now and our job is to get into the same pond. It won't happen right now, it won't happen by the end of the season.
“Our job is to highlight the progress we've been making, set realistic targets and achieve them, but the targets have got to be realistic. The worst thing Davie and I can do is set unrealistic targets.
“But getting into Europe is a realistic target. It's a club who've been promoted. Yes, we have a fantastic history, but we are where we are.”
Meanwhile, Warburton has dismissed claims by James McFadden, the Motherwell assistant manager, that the reaction of the Rangers dugout after Scott McDonald’s foul on Kenny Miller had helped to get the player red carded at Fir Park on Saturday.
"How have I done that?” he said. “It's nonsensical. The game's about opinions and if that's someone's opinion, all well and good. It was right in front of me, I saw it and I thought the decision was very clear, as was ours.”
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