GRAEME Murty launched a vociferous defence of Rangers’ conduct during the January transfer window last night in response to scathing criticism from former Ibrox striker Kris Boyd.
Boyd claimed the Glasgow club had been deliberately trying to unsettle players at their Ladbrokes Premiership rivals by tabling offers which were way below their market value.
They have had bids for Greg Docherty of Hamilton and Jordon Jones of Kilmarnock, where Boyd now plays, turned down this week.
However, Murty, who has signed Jason Cummings, Sean Goss, Russell Martin and Jamie Murphy on loan until the end of the season and Declan John on a permanent deal, insisted Rangers had done nothing untoward.
“Kris is entitled to his opinion," he said. "As far as I’m concerned we have made offers for players and it’s well within their rights to turn those bids down. Our business has been above board and transparent. If he thinks our bids are too low, that’s Kris’ opinion.
"You make a bid, as to your perceived value of the player. The other club may have a different value. If that’s the case, we either renegotiate and come to an agreement or we walk away. There is no bitterness, no anger. It’s just business and the way it has always been done in football."
Asked if Rangers were trying to unsettle players, Murty said: “I don’t think there is any point answering that because it’s just how business is done. We didn’t go to the player, we went to the other club in the correct manner and offered a value for the player. They turned it down. Fair enough, we move on.
“Every club has an obligation to be prudent with their finances. We have to make sure the safety of the club is protected at all times. As far as I’m concerned, we are doing that in a correct manner.
“Our business is being conducted with due diligence from above. We are making sure that everything we do is for the future of the football club, to move us forward.”
Meanwhile, Murty confirmed he had spoken to Steven Naismith, the former Rangers player who joined Hearts on loan from Norwich City until the end of the season on Thursday, about returning to Ibrox.
“Steven is now a Hearts player," he said. "Whatever has gone on between Steven and Hearts or between Steven and Rangers is our business. He is a Hearts player and we wish him all the best, but obviously not against us. We wish him good luck with his new club."
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