The Master Baker strikes a suitably Churchillian pose at Murray Park yesterday
By Decord reporter Spew Heevins
Mark Warburton has the look of an Erwin Rommel or a Douglas MacArthur about him as he sits in his plush office at Murray Park, surveying the conveyor belt of talent as it passes before his window, starry-eyed youngsters hoping to catch his attention and force their way into his first team battle plans.
That will be no easy feat for any of the Murray Park colts when you consider the array of talent the Master Baker is amassing this frenetic close season at the Govan giants.
With steely determination and a shrewd eye for a player, Warbs has steadied the ship since the beginning of what seemed set to be a summer of turmoil and has already added Rob Kiernan, Danny Wilson and Wes Foderingham to his squad. Like the hard-nosed city trader that he is, London’s Manager of the Year has got maximum value for minimal outlay so far. This is sure to guarantee Rangers a massive return on their investment in the shape of a return to the top flight where they belong next season, and launching a credible challenge for the title the season after that.
The latest prospective additions to Warbs’ squad are Reece Wabara and Andy Halliday. Warbs though will not make a decision until he has seen the pair in action in a closed doors friendly against Spurs on Friday. The match was arranged at Spurs’ request, after a coaching delegation came to Murray Park, where they were blown away by the facilities on offer.
Former Manchester City starlet Wabara is wanted by a host of clubs in La Liga and the Bundesliga and both Arsenal and Chelsea are rumoured to be keeping tabs on his situation but the player himself is determined to win a deal with Rangers.
A close friend of Wabara’s told the Decord last night, “Reece has played for big clubs before but he has been blown away by Rangers. Everything about the club is just different class – the support, the history, Murray Park and Ibrox itself – and he doesn’t want to even think about going elsewhere.”
The man labelled the new Dani Alves by those in the know, would be a blockbuster of a signing. The big, lightning fast fullback is equally comfortable in attack and defence and his crossing is reminiscent of David Beckham on a good day. One can only imagine how many goals Kris Boyd would have scored last season with quality deliveries from Wabara arrowing into the box.
Young Andy Halliday from Bradford City is an equally mouthwatering prospect for the Rangers legions to savour and he is likewise absolutely set on a move to Rangers despite interest from several Championship clubs in England. Everton and Aston Villa are also said to be waiting to pounce should Warbs decide against signing the free-scoring midfielder.
Halliday, dubbed “the Scottish Lothar Mattheus” by adoring Bradford City fans last season, was the man who put Chelsea to the sword in the FA Cup upset at Stamford Bridge last season, scoring the Bantams’ third goal and dictating the tempo of the game from his midfield beat.
Halliday has privately told friends that he will snub any offers from Premiership teams as he has been blown away by Mark Warburton’s plans for Rangers. The Master Baker likes to play football on the ground, which is ideally suited to the hard-running Halliday’s style.
Now everything for the exciting pair hinges on Friday’s glamorous closed-door friendly against Spurs at their state-of-the-art training ground in Warbs’ old London stomping ground. Rangers fan Prince Harry is expected to be in attendance, but even he will not be watching with as keen an eye as Master Baker Warburton as his impressive rebuilding job on the Govan giants gathers pace.
The Raily Decord 