MARK WARBURTON, the Rangers manager, is close to making back room additions to improve his scouting network at Ibrox. The 53-year-old has been working without an established group of talent spotters since his move north of the border in the summer but still overhauled his squad ahead of the new campaign as he looks to guide Rangers back to the Premiership in his first season at the club.
The issue of lack of a proper network of scouts was first raised by Ally McCoist a couple of years ago during a turbulent period on and off the park for Rangers and is one area that has yet to be fully addressed following the regime change earlier this year. Warburton has already made a considerable impression at Ibrox as the players he recruited during the summer have helped Rangers to an unbeaten start to the Championship campaign, with the likes of James Tavernier and Martyn Waghorn making a significant contribution so far.
Warburton has taken a hands-on approach to improving every area of the football department at Murray Park and more new faces could arrive sooner rather than later to further strengthen his behind the scenes team.
“Yes, hopefully we’re making some real inroads and I’m very confident in the very near future we’ll have something to say on that,” Warburton said. “Again, as with players, it’s about getting the right people. You have to get the right people at the right time and they’ve got to add value to the club.
“There’s no point saying I’ve got five scouts for you, they’ve got to be people who know exactly what we are looking for, what the players profile is that David (Weir) and I are demanding here and understanding what we really are seeking. So those people are not all over the place, we have to make sure we get the right people and we’re very close to getting them.”
Meanwhile, Peter Houston, the Falkirk manager, has been charged by the Scottish FA for his blast at referee John McKendrick following the 3-1 defeat to Rangers on Saturday.
Houston has been accused of criticising the match officials 'in such a way as to indicate bias and incompetence on their part, and which also impinged upon their character' after hitting out at the decision to award Rangers a free-kick for a Tom Taiwo foul on Nicky Law.
Houston has until next Tuesday to respond while assistant manager Alan Maybury has accepted a one match ban for using 'offensive abusing and insulting language' towards McKendrick.
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