Mark Warburton’s departure has seen various names mentioned in connection as his potential replacement at Rangers included St Johnstone’s Tommy Wright and Billy Davies – who has been linked with us previously.
Commenting on the Rangers links Wright said he took it as a compliment that he’s been mentioned in connection with the vacancy at Ibrox.
He told BBC Scotland.
‘I take it as a compliment to be linked with a club of that size and that history. I also take it as a compliment that journalists and the media in Scotland recognise the job that I’ve done over the last three or four seasons.’
Wright has been in charge at McDiarmid Park since 2013 with him enjoying a successful spell with St Johnstone finishing now lower than sixth with successive fourth place finishes in the Scottish Premiership secured – he also won the Scottish Cup in 2014.
He went on to say he was ‘humbled’ by the links but it wasn’t anything more than ‘speculation.’
‘I’m humbled by it a bit but it is pure speculation and there’s nothing concrete in anything. Derek McInnes will tell you the same thing – managers can do nothing about speculation. It’s nice to be mentioned as a possible manager of Rangers but I’m totally focused on trying to get three points and doing the best I can for St Johnstone.’
Adding he was surprised by the departure of Warburton and David Weir.
‘I was shocked on Friday night when somebody texted me with the news [about Warburton leaving Rangers]. I always got on well with him and Davie Weir when we played against each other so it’s disappointing to see a manger losing his job.’
Former Rangers striker Kris Boyd has shared his opinion on who he thinks should be appointed at Ibrox. This would be Billy Davies.
Davies – linked with Rangers at last twice in the past – hasn’t been in management for getting on for three years. However, having played under the 52 year old during one of his spells as boss at Nottingham Forest he’s been backed by Boyd.
Boyd was also speaking to BBC Scotland when saying.
‘He’ll do anything to win games of football. It’s a results-driven world and, for me, there’s not a better man.’
Adding.
‘He’s a winner. When you see some of the runs he’s been on at clubs, the records he’s broken, he has something that can bring out the best in people. He got me back scoring goals inside a week after a difficult few months not playing at Middlesbrough. That didn’t happen by coincidence.’
The 33 year old went on to say he feels he’ll be able to get the best out of players. Which he had Boyd at the City Ground, with Warburton of course linked with Nottingham Forest.
Most of the other names linked with Rangers don’t go near to matching Davies’ CV as far as Kilmarnock striker Body is concerned.
‘It wasn’t just me. There were three or four others at Forest who were lacking a bit of fitness and he had us out on bike runs at seven in the morning. A lot of the good work he’s done in England has gone unnoticed up here. And if you go back as far as Motherwell, they were fighting relegation when he took over. He kept them up and then they were challenging for Europe. When you at the stats, I don’t think there’s much comes near him.’
