GRAEME Murty, the interim Rangers manager, told his players last night that how they fare during the remainder of the season will determine whether they have a future at the club.
The 42-year-old, who has been thrust into the limelight in the caretaker role after the departure of Mark Warburton and David Weir, is in charge of a group which has won just one and lost three of their last six league matches, losing valuable ground to Aberdeen in the race for second place.
When asked if he would apply for the job on a long-term basis, Murty said "I would doubt it" but reminded his players that the next manager of the club was already out there, forming an opinion on every one of them.
Read more: Graeme Murty picks himself up and dusts himself down as Rangers bid to put mishaps behind them
Ahead of Friday night's visit to an Inverness side showing signs of life, he feels it is realistic for the club to target second place in the Ladbrokes Premiership and a Scottish Cup win.
"They know that they are playing for their future," said Murty. "Whoever is going to come in is out there forming an opinion right now on what he wants this football club to look like in the near and the more distant future. So, if they want to be part of it, they have to go and stake a claim for it right now.”
For all the pressure which is heaped upon the shoulders of a man who has only previously coached youth players, Murty said he still feels "dazzled" and "fortunate" to be able to cut his teeth in the caretaker role at a club of the scale of Rangers.
While he continues to operate on a game-by-game basis, the big date in the diary is March 12, when the Ibrox side travel to Celtic Park, the ground where they lost 5-1 earlier in the campaign. It is still uncertain whether he will remain in sole charge by then but Murty said he would relish the opportunity.
Read more: Graeme Murty picks himself up and dusts himself down as Rangers bid to put mishaps behind them
"I would be trying to make sure the players prepare as well as possible and go to another massive game ready to go and try and get a positive result," said Murty. "Every single time they put on the shirt is an opportunity because I've told them the new manager is watching."
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