MURTY HURTY
It was a good weekend for Pope’s O’Rangers, in so much as there were 37 minutes plus stoppages still to play when Callum McGregor put the Queen’s Celtic five goals up on Sunday. By holding out for the remainder of the match, the Light Blues ensured they didn’t suffer a record Old Firm battering of Hampden In The Sun proportions, or worse, and that’s got to be worth something, surely. So well done, everyone! But that’s not stopped Graeme Murty getting the sack. Poor Graeme. It doesn’t seem long ago that his team took the lead against the Bhoys a couple of times at Ibrox, and people wondered whether they were finally on the right road again, for the first time since someone accidentally ticked the wrong box when applying for a Post Office savings book, or whatever it was that happened. But no, the Queen’s Celtic ended up winning that one as well, and now here we all are. Oh Graeme! Uh-oh O’Rangers!
Murty’s dismissal means his 187-day reign as manager is the shortest in the club’s history. That beats a record that stood for 187 days, held by Murty’s predecessor Pedro Caixinha, who looked confused, haunted and lost for 227 days. After that, it’s Paul Le Guen, who spent 240 days failing to get on with Barry Ferguson; Mark Warburton, who to be fair tasted B&Q Centenary Cup glory during his one year and 240 days in charge; and Davie White, who held office for two years and 26 days during the late 60s, managing to annoy star striker Alex Ferguson with his tactical naivety but achieving little else. The recent rapid turnover is quite a contrast to the days of William Wilton, the club’s first manager, who stayed for nearly 21 years, and his successor Bill Struth, who ruled for over 34 years. How times have changed at the venerable 146-year-old Scottish institution, and don’t bother sending us your observations on corporate law, because we simply don’t care.
It all means the 54-time champions (we genuinely couldn’t care less) are looking for their 16th permanent manager. $tevie Mbe is hot favourite to take over, as he either wants to start his managerial career by taking on a big challenge or, as a Liverpool supporter born and bred, thinks it’s high time the Ibrox club were properly punished for sending down Graeme Souness in 1991, and that he’s the very man to wreak similar havoc. It’s probably the former, isn’t it. An announcement has yet to be made, and for now O’Rangers will continue with Jimmy Nicholl and Jonatan Johansson in charge as the team fight Aberdeen and Hibs for the dubious honour of ending the season in second, forever to be juxtaposed with the new seven-in-a-row champs away in the distance. And, of course, nothing’s certain yet. Second favourite to be wearing an O’Rangers tie and blazer on the touchline in an Old Firm derby next season? Neil Warnock. Just imagine his modern take on the Battle Fever! Yes, our fingers are crossed too.
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QUOTE OF THE DAY
“Should we prepare a welcome dinner for him? We’re afraid the Professor won’t be a fan of our local-style barbecue, so we are not inviting him over” – Shandong Luneng opt for a novel denial to news that Arsène Wenger will replace Li Xiaopeng as coach.
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FIVER LETTERS
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BITS AND BOBS
Anthony Martial looks set to join the ranks of players José Mourinho thinks are bobbins, sells, but go on to be really, really good. And in a fine commitment to comedy, Chelsea are keen.
David Moyes may “punish” Andy Carroll by leaving him out of the West Ham side, following a barney between the two in training. So if any Hammers players don’t fancy debasing themselves for the remainder of the season, they know what to do.
Buoyed by the news that Bobby F has pledged his future/delayed his inevitable departure for a bit, Jürgen Klopp reckons your Mo Salahs and your Sadio Manés will follow suit at Liverpool.
As his side prepare for another shoeing by Real Madrid, Jupp Heynckes insists Bayern Munich don’t have a “complex” about facing their Spanish cousins.
Donny Trump says he will be “watching very closely” any nations that choose not to back the USA! USA!! USA!!!, Mexico and Canada’s 2026 World Cup bid, seemingly unaware it’s that sort of boorish behaviour that’s made everyone else vote for Morocco in the first place.
And Southport have sacked Kevin Davies as manager. “It has become clear to the board that this club requires an experienced head to take us up the leagues,” parped club suit Phil Hodgkinson.
STILL WANT MORE?
The last time Liverpool put Roma out of Europe – thanks to Mr Em.
Roy Keane. Mick McCarthy. Saipan. 2002. It’s another World Cup stunning moment, by Barry Glendenning.
Proper Journalism’s David Conn on Blackeye Rovers and Tony Mowbray’s passage to India.
Suzanne Wrack talks to Arsenal’s Leah Williamson to preview Saturday’s FA Cup final against Chelsea.
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