Wednesday 15 February 2017 17:16, UK
Mark Warburton has issued a joint statement insisting he, along with assistant David Weir and head of recruitment Frank McParland, did not resign at Rangers.
The club announced on Friday they had accepted the resignations of the trio and Graeme Murty took charge of the team during Sunday's Scottish Cup win over Morton.
Sky sources understand that a representative made a request to release the three men from their contracts on February 8 due to interest in Warburton from Nottingham Forest, with the request reversed the following day.
On Wednesday morning, the deposed Rangers management team expressed their surprise that the club had not addressed the questions posed to them.
The statement, released by the League Managers Association (LMA), read: "Much has been said over the last few days relating to our departure from Rangers.
"At this stage, for legal reasons, it is inappropriate for us to comment in any great detail on our departure from the club.
"However, given that the club has seen fit to make detailed public statements, it is important that we should clarify certain matters and as such we would like to formally place on record, that at no stage did we resign from our positions at Rangers.
"It is a matter of surprise to us, and to the League Managers Association (LMA), which is advising all three of us, that despite its detailed public statements, the club has not answered key questions put to it by the LMA, in writing, requesting an explanation of why it suggested that we resigned from our positions."
Chairman Dave King criticised Warburton on Saturday for his response to boardroom scrutiny and accused him of a lack of commitment to the club.
King claimed that after a meeting, their agent "subsequently offered that Mark, David and Frank would resign with immediate effect without compensation as long as the club, in turn, agreed to waive compensation from any new club that they signed for."
King's statement continued: "After discussion, the board accepted this offer and employment was immediately terminated. In order for us to achieve our ambitions, we need employees that, like your board members, will always put Rangers first.
"While we were dealing with the admin and press releases relating to the resignation, the agent again contacted us and asked to defer the resignation until the management had secured a new club.
"I assume that the new deal had somehow collapsed at the last minute. The board met to consider this request but resolved to hold them to the original agreement."
The issue looks set to run and could end up in the courts, given the distance between both versions of events.
In the meantime, Rangers are searching for a new management team, which could include a director of football, while Warburton, Weir and McParland may be in limbo until the legal issues are settled.
Their statement added: "It was an absolute privilege to be given the opportunity to work at a club that is so rich in tradition and history.
"We sincerely thank the Rangers fans for their unwavering passion and dedication. The current group of players, together with the staff at the training ground and Ibrox, have borne the huge weight of responsibility of taking a massive club back to the top flight.
"It has been a pleasure to work with them, and we would like to thank each and every one of them for their commitment and contribution."
Murty is likely to be in charge for Sunday's Scottish Premiership match against Dundee at Dens Park, live on Sky Sports 1 HD from 3pm.
Grab a NOW TV Sky Sports Day Pass and watch Dundee v Rangers for just £6.99. No contract.
