The ins and outs of the managerial Hokey Cokey are part of the fabric of this increasingly ruthless game. The choppings, changings, to-ings and fro-ings can be fairly unsettling for all and sundry but it’s water off a duck’s back for Martyn Waghorn.
“I’ve experienced change right from my debut at Sunderland,” said Waghorn as began to adapt to life under the new Rangers manager, Pedro Caixhina. “I had two managers that season and three in my time at Leicester. I think last season was the first time I haven't had a new manager in the middle of it.
“It's part and parcel of the game now. It's a results business and at a top club like Rangers, if they’re not going your way, you have to expect change. As players you need to learn to deal with it and it's harder for the younger players to accept but I've learned you need to get on with your job for whoever’s in charge, whether it's interim managers or anyone else. You're a pro, you have a job to do.
“It's been different recently. Different managers and different styles. Murts (Graeme Murty) kind of had similar ideas to Mark (Warburton), now Pedro has come in and has tried to develop the high intensity thing. It's the way football is going now; possession, attacking, the transition between winning and losing the ball. Pedro has had us working hard the last few days and all the boys have been right on board.”
It’s been a stop-start season for Waghorn but the 27-year-old is hoping the next couple of months can give him fresh impetus as he looks to impress the new man in the hot seat.
“Everyone has two months to show what they can do,” said Waghorn, who was moved from his wider position into a more central attacking role against Celtic last weekend and seemed to revel in his natural habitat. “Everyone is kind of on trial but we have to believe in ourselves and focus on the job in hand which is to get second place and win the Scottish Cup. My natural position is as a striker, I can be my most prolific there and I loved the battle last weekend. I have always said I would like to extend my contract and be here for a long time. I'm going to give my all over the next few weeks to hopefully get that sorted."
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