Gers boss still hopeful of sealing deal for Joe Dodoo
Monday 18 July 2016 16:36, UK
Mark Warburton has hit back at reports that Martyn Waghorn and James Tavernier want to leave Rangers.
The pair were instrumental last season as Rangers won the Scottish Championship to gain promotion back to the top flight, with Waghorn scoring 28 goals before injury ruled him out for much of the last three months of the campaign while Tavernier hit 15 goals from right-back.
Both were on target again on Saturday in the Betfred Cup win at Motherwell but recent reports have suggested they have turned down extensions to their current deals which last until 2018.
However, the former Wigan pair have re-iterated their desire to remain at Ibrox and Warburton says both players are an important part of the club going forward.
"There was never any doubt about their commitment - the media jumped on to something and makes a story out of nothing. They are two very committed players, they had excellent seasons last year and they are enjoying life," Warburton said.
"We are good for them and they are good for us. Players, like in any job, want to be happy in what they do, they want to be happy coming to work and they have been fantastic. They have shown their commitment to the club from day one.
"They contributed 43 goals between them last year and their attitude throughout has been first class so I was disappointed, frustrated when I read some stories because the fans get the wrong idea about the players.
"They've been magnificent and their devotion to the club has never wavered in any shape or form. I knew what Tav would say, I knew what Waggy would say, they are two top class professionals who are doing a great job at Rangers and I don't see that changing."
Warburton was speaking ahead of his side's second group stage game in the revamped League Cup against Annan on Tuesday night where Joey Barton will make his debut from the bench while fellow new signings Matt Gilks, Lee Hodson, Clint Hill, Josh Windass and Niko Kranjcar are all set to start.
The Rangers manager said he has been happy with his summer recruitment and believes Waghorn and Tavernier are keen to be a part of the expanded squad.
"The club is bigger than any individual, that's for sure - it is a great place to be," he said. "We are now back in the top flight and the boys were involved last year in getting the club back into the top flight, now we have to move forward and they want to be part of that.
"They played a big role last season, Tav and Waggy, and they want to be part of us pushing very hard. We haven't come up to make up numbers, we are not making any rash predictions about what we are going to do but we said we are here to be more than highly competitive and that's our job.
"We want one or two more but our recruitment has been good, we've added to the quality we already had and we have a really hungry group of players so our intention is clear, I hope."
One of those new recruits could be Joe Dodoo, as Rangers remain on course to sign the forward but Warburton admitted he is now unlikely to feature against Annan as concluding his move from Leicester is taking more time. Dodoo is out of contract but Rangers have to pay a compensation fee.
"I'm hoping the paperwork is being finalised. The two clubs are talking. It's above my pay grade so I will let the clever people get on with that and I'll do my stuff out there," said Warburton. "I think it will be too late for tomorrow night but fingers crossed we can get that one to completion.
"He has trained with us and he's a top young lad and a top young talent as well. I'll be excited to get him on board."
