Mark Warburton: Fixture gripe shows clubs missed Rangers

Mark Warburton believes the criticism of the Ladbrokes Premiership fixture list shows how much clubs have missed Rangers in their absence from the top flight.

Rangers manager Mark Warburton doesn't understand why his side have only one pre-split home fixture against Hearts, Aberdeen and Celtic. Picture: John Devlin

Yesterday, Partick Thistle, one of three clubs that complained to the SPFL, revealed no compensation would be paid to teams who had only two pre-split home games against the Old Firm.

Thistle, along with Hamilton and Motherwell, felt it an unfair advantage that other top Premiership sides got four home matches against Rangers and Celtic next season.

Warburton felt the argument showed Rangers’ value to the top flight, while also laying out some of his own gripes with the unusual schedule.

He said: “I’m sure there are problems everywhere. I could sit here as Rangers manager and say we’ve got Celtic, Aberdeen and Hearts away twice, at home only once, before the split.

“How does that work? It’s the first time for me experiencing the split. It’s very, very unusual - I’m used to home and away, you know where you stand.

“I’m sure the gripe of Motherwell and Partick Thistle isn’t with Rangers, but has got to be with the authorities. It shows you how much the league has missed Rangers, I guess.”

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