Murray dismisses Adriaanse mind games
Rangers chairman David Murray has dismissed suggestions Co Adriaanse was approached by the Ibrox club as “mind games” on the part of the Porto coach.
The former AZ Alkmaar boss claimed the Glasgow giants had approached him earlier “this year” with Alex McLeish still in charge of the team.
But the Light Blues’ owner insists McLeish, who is fighting to save his job after a poor start to the Bank of Scotland Premier League season, is already aware of who is successor will be be if he leaves – and it is not Adriaanse.
Murray told BBC Scotland: “Let me tell you this, Alex knows who the next manager of Rangers will be if he has to go.
“But I can assure you I have made no approach to Co Adriaanse.”
Murray gave McLeish until the end of November to turn around the fortunes of the team.
But the defeat at Celtic on Saturday left the Light Blues trailing their arch-rivals by 15 points in the SPL table after being dumped out of the CIS Insurance Cup 10 days earlier.
It means the Champions League game against Porto takes on even more significance.
Murray added: “Alex has had a run of bad luck and I told him I’d have to put a backstop on it.
“But I am very loyal to people. My word is my bond and one thing I can’t recover if I break, it is my reputation.
“But Co Adriaanse is endeavouring to play mind games with Alex McLeish before such an important game.
“He cannot even be specific as to the who, where and when of any approach. That is because it was not made.”
Earlier, the Porto boss claimed he was approached by the Ibrox club but refused to elaborate on when the call came, saying only he had already committed himself to Porto.
Adriaanse, who has also previously claimed he was approached by Celtic before they appointed Martin O’Neill five years ago, said: “Celtic approached me in 2000 and Rangers this year.
“I don’t want to tell you the details, but they (Rangers) were very interested in me.
“But I signed a contract with Porto before the summer.”
Celtic and Rangers have a history of Dutch coaches – Wim Jansen and Dick Advocaat both brought success to the Old Firm – and Adriaanse hinted he has not ruled out a switch to Glasgow in the future.
He added: “As a coach, you never know. If I hadn’t signed, then Rangers and Celtic are both very interesting clubs for Dutch coaches.”
Poor results in the Champions League mean Adriaanse has also come under fire, despite only joining Porto in the summer, and he sympathises with McLeish.
But the Dutchman insists any feelings of goodwill will be forgotten when the teams line up at the Stadio Dragao, as Porto attempt to drag themselves off the bottom of Group H.
Adriaanse said: “I have a lot of sympathy for Alex. When you are at a top club, you have to win.
“Supporters expect Rangers or Celtic to be the champions but Hearts are also in good shape this season.
“I know him well, but not enough to say: ‘Okay Alex, here are the three points for you.’”
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