Rangers' Mark Warburton plays down row with Hibs' Alan Stubbs

Mark Warburton insists he has no issue with Hibernian counterpart Alan Stubbs as the pair contest the Scottish Championship title.

Rangers currently lead the Easter Road side by two points and have a game in hand as they prepare to visit Livingston this weekend.

While competition between the clubs themselves has been tense, the rivalry between the opposing managers has had an edge too.

It began with a drawn-out spat over Rangers' attempts to sign Scott Allan in the summer before Hibs eventually sold him to Celtic instead.

Stubbs has also made reference to the Ibrox outfit's budget, saying this week it was four times the size of his own and that the Glasgow team therefore should be out in front.

He later tried to play down the simmering row by saying: "We're in an entertainment business - we have to make things entertaining."

Warburton, who is bidding to take Rangers into the Scottish Premiership after they lost out to Motherwell in the play-offs last season, agrees there is no feud.

"It's just tongue in cheek," said the Englishman. "There's no problems with Alan. We shared a drink after the last game with the staff. We talked about the game and got on well.

"It's the media. It's about rivalry. It's about making headlines and getting excitement and that's great. It's a competitive world we work in. But we respect all these teams. There's no easy games in this league, that's for sure. If you don't prepare well you pay the price."

Hibs have won 12 of their last 13 games including one against Rangers to close in on them but Warburton maintains he is not worried.

He added: "We have a game in hand, and if we win that we are five points clear. We've lost one game of football all season so it's not about Hibs, it's not about Falkirk.

"It's about Rangers and from our point of view, all we can do is try to go out and win every game we play. If we do that, we will be in good shape. If we slip up, other teams may come to the party.

"We're very respectful of all the other teams and Hibs have put a tremendous run together. All credit to them but it's about us and us doing what we do best."