Monday 19 September 2016 15:03, UK
Mark Warburton says he will not discourage Rangers players from engaging in debate and discussion around performances in light of Joey Barton's suspension from the club.
The midfielder was suspended for three weeks after originally being banished from the club following a row with team-mate Andy Halliday and Warburton in the wake of their 5-1 Scottish Premiership defeat to Celtic on September 10.
Under Warburton, Rangers players take part in frank discussions after matches when analysing performances but the manager insisted it is vital those conversations are conducted in the right manner and said he will not be changing an approach which he believes is important for the squad.
"Not at all; the environment we create here for the players and for the staff is about giving respectful opinion," Warburton said. "Always want opinion; I never have a problem with a player knocking on my door saying 'can we talk about a session' - never have a problem with that.
"Do it in the right manner, otherwise they'll get a flea in their ear. It is about being respectful and how we deal with each other. That is the way society is now and it is changing, no problem with that at all. It is how you deliver the message which will always be key to myself and the staff.
"Anything like this goes towards the environment you create, I think the environment you create for players and staff coming to work is vitally important.
"They come to work every day - if they enjoy coming here, enjoy the work they do, leave here feeling they are better people in a better place, better condition et cetera then we will perform better as a team."
Warburton refused to elaborate much further on the statement issued by Rangers on Monday morning which confirmed that Barton will not return to Ibrox or their training centre at Auchenhowie for three weeks and would not say if he had been suspended with or without pay.
"What it means is what the club said in the statement; it is not for me to make any further comment other than what has been released by the club this morning," he said.
"I'm sure you can understand from my position, and the position of the club, the statement has gone out and no further comment will be made so I trust you will respect my statement on that fact.
"Such details [with or without pay] don't come out and are never mentioned by me or discussed by me so, as I say, respect the fact that we are not going to make any further comment and when it is appropriate to mention such details we will do so, but right now there will be no further comment."