STEWART ROBERTSON, the Rangers managing director, has revealed the Ibrox club has narrowed their search for a new manager down to “a few outstanding candidates” and were “very close” to making an appointment.

Caretaker manager Graeme Murty, who oversaw a dramatic 3-2 victory over St Johnstone last night, claimed that his team had answered their critics with a dramatic injury-time victory over St Johnstone at Ibrox.

It looked as if the Govan club were about to slump to a draw after they squandered a two-goal lead and had Rob Kiernan sent off in the last 16 minutes.

But Emerson Hyndman, the Bournemouth midfielder on loan at Rangers until the end of the season, netted a stunning goal in the first minute of injury-time to secure the win.

The Rangers board have come in for criticism for their failure to bring in a permanent replacement for Mark Warburton.

But in his programme notes for last night’s match against Tommy Wright’s side, Robertson stressed they have been “forensic” in their search for a director of football and manager.

“There is no confusion or turmoil inside Rangers,” he said. “There has always been a clarity of purpose.

“A management team resigned and is about to be replaced after an intense and detailed process, which was absolutely necessary given the lack of progress on the playing front so far this season.

“We simply could not be hurried into making appointments which might not have been correct for the club’s long term development.

“Our search has been narrowed down to a few outstanding candidates, who we believe possess the necessary skills and attributes. We have been deliberately forensic in our search, studying every detail of each manager’s character, his work and style and we have sought references for those who have stood out.

“Frankly, results must improve and so it is vital that we appoint soon. Doing so will also allow our new manager a few months to assess the current squad while formalising his summer recruitment plans. Again, the funds are there to support the new manager.”

Murty, meanwhile, was pleased at the spirit which his team showed to record their first league win since January.

“There’s a lot of emotions at the moment but the main one is relief that a group of players who thoroughly deserved the three points came up with a win,” he said. “They showed a little bit of the spirit we have been asking for so I’m relieved for them. They have had a lot of criticism of late and they could have gone under, but they came through.”

Tommy Wright, the St. Johnstone manager, was pleased at how his players performed after their 2-0 home defeat to Kilmarnock at the weekend and how got back on level terms. But Wright, who is one of the names to be linked with the vacant position at Ibrox, was angry at his side’s defending at Hyndman’s goal.

“There was a lot of disappointment on Saturday night,” he said. “This is a different kind of disappointment. “It’s a poor goal to concede late on. It doesn’t matter if they have 10 or 11 on the pitch at that stage.”