MARK WARBURTON, David Weir and Frank McParland “categorically deny” quitting Sevco Rangers, despite the club saying they have resigned.
Sources added to the Ibrox turmoil by insisting the trio would not walk away. It now looks like the club founded in 2012 will be facing constructive dismissal claims from three employees.
The club tonight announced manager Warburton, his assistant Weir and Head of Recruitment McParland had had their resignations accepted at 9 o’clock this evening.
They also said Under-20s coach Graeme Murty would take charge of the team for Sunday’s Scottish Cup fifth-round tie with Morton in Govan.
The Ibrox outfit say Warburton intimated to the board earlier this week he wished to resign yet the Englishman conducted his pre-match media conference as normal this afternoon.
The club then made its announcement a few hours later, saying they had agreed to waive their right to compensation should the trio join another club.
A statement read: “Rangers has accepted the resignations of manager Mark Warburton, assistant manager David Weir and the club’s head of recruitment Frank McParland.
“At a meeting with the management team’s representative earlier this week, the club were advised Mr Warburton, Mr Weir and Mr McParland wished to resign their positions and leave the club on condition Rangers agreed to waive its rights to substantial compensation.
“Rangers’ agreement to waive compensation would assist the management team to join another club.
“This compensation amount was agreed when Rangers significantly improved Mr Warburton and Mr Weir’s financial arrangements before the start of this season.
“The Board urgently convened to consider the offer made on behalf of the management team and its ramifications and agreed to accept it and release the trio from the burden of compensation, despite the potential financial cost to the club.”
Warburton was appointed at the start of last season and led the team to the Championship title, taking them back into the top flight for the first time since 2012.
They also reached the Scottish Cup Final where they lost 3-2 to Hibs.
This season, however, they have struggled for form and currently trail Premiership leaders Celtic by 27 points.
A 1-1 draw with Ross County last weekend also saw Aberdeen overtake them into second on goal difference and the Ibrox men have won just one of their last five league matches.
Warburton has received criticism for some of his summer signings – including Joey Barton, Niko Kranjcar and Jordan Rossiter – with McParland also coming under fire.
The former Brentford boss had been linked with the manager’s position at Nottingham Forest earlier this week, but Gary Brazil was appointed until the end of the season last night.
This evening’s statement added: “It is important Rangers has a football management team that wants to be at the club that the board believes can take the club forward to meet our stated ambition to return to being the number one club in Scotland.
“We are clearly short of where we expected to be at this time. The representative acting for the management team subsequently attempted to alter the terms of what had been agreed in favour of the management team.
“A further board meeting was held this afternoon to discuss this and it was decided not to agree to this additional request, but to hold with the original agreement.
“Mr Warburton, Mr Weir, and Mr McParland have therefore been notified in writing that their notices of termination have been accepted.
“The board is very appreciative of the good work previously done by the management team but believes it had no alternative. Our club must come first and absolute commitment is essential.
“Under-20 coach Graeme Murty will take interim charge of the team. We know our support will give him and our team their full backing. We thank our support for their loyalty and desire to be the best.”
