Dave King: Warburton wanted to use Rangers as a stepping stone, offered to resign on Monday, unhappy at Ibrox

Following last night’s hastily-released statement confirming the resignations of Mark Warburton, Davie Weir and Frank McParland, the Rangers board finally re-emerged to provide a more comprehensive update on just what’s going on at Ibrox.

The big question for supporters is just what has happened with the management team and what are the next steps for the club and the exiled chairman refuted claims Warburton hadn’t been backed financially stating that £18m (of the much-vaunted £30m) had been invested in the club and that, despite only planning to bring in "five or six" players over the summer, they allowed Warburton to make ELEVEN new signings after he "appealed to the Board for additional signings" while having resources significantly above those of every club not called Celtic to finish a "strong second" and qualify for Europe. With a wage bill somewhere in the region of £10m per year it’s hard to argue with King and although it massively trails behind Celtic’s wage-bill (that’s a whole different discussion) Warburton should have had his side comfortably in second place.

King then goes on to update fans about the events that ultimately led to last-night’s purge. Noting that the manager had been informed in late January of the Board’s plan to review his performance, particularly surrounding concerns over some of the club’s highest earners spending more time watching the first team play than actually playing. Then it gets a bit passive aggressive:

It doesn’t take much to see where the finger is pointing.

Not long after the club confirmed the resignations was there the first reports of just what had happened and King confirmed what was being claimed on social media: The club had been approached about allowing the trio to leave without compensation and when it was never followed up officially, King was made aware of Warburton’s ambition to manage in the English Premier League, using Rangers as a "stepping stone" to get there, and his unhappiness at Ibrox. Warburton’s agent then held a meeting with the club on behalf of his clients and offered their immediate resignation on the condition the club waived any claim to compensation. The club agreed.

As they were going through the relevant paperwork and preparation, they were again approached by Warburton’s agent and asked to hold off until they had found a new club. Rangers, quite rightly, refused this request.

We’ve yet to hear the ‘other’ side of the story yet but if King’s version of events ring true, and they seem to fit well with last night’s reports, then it’s hard to find fault in the club’s actions. Warburton has tried to find a way out and when that has fell through then he’s tried to keep his job here instead. Once it was clear he didn’t want to be here it was best for all parties that he left. That Rangers might have got rid of him for nothing just makes it a little bit sweeter.

Enjoy Nottingham, Mark. As you say, we’ll go again.