GRAEME MURTY has already put the theory into practice. He has tests to pass and qualifications to earn, but he has done the work experience.

It was an examination of his man management and mentality as much as his coaching capabilities. Murty has now taken a step back, but the path to stride forward is clearer.

His six matches in the dugout taught him more than any coaching manual or time in a classroom could. It was a steep learning curve but one that undoubtedly stood the 42-year-old in good stead.

Asked to step in at short notice following the departure of Mark Warburton in February, Murty lead Rangers to wins over Morton, St Johnstone and Hamilton before new boss Pedro Caixinha watched on as the Light Blues earned a deserved draw at Parkhead.

In recent days, he has combined his role as Under-20s boss with a place in Caixinha’s backroom staff as he helps the Portuguese adjust to life at Ibrox.

His working week has returned to something that resembles normality. His career will never be the same again, though.

“It was my first proper session [on Friday],” Murty said. “It was good to look at the 20s and see how far they have developed in the short time I was away because there has been a change.

“I’m getting loads of demands on my time. Now that I’m not doing quite as many hours with the first team, my wife and daughter have decided they are going to monopolise the rest of my time!

“It was great and an unbelievable honour and experience to look at first team workings really closely.

“Part of my SFA Pro Licence is managing change and managing in a first team environment and I've been sat there in one of their lectures thinking...’I’ve just worked and lived through this’.

“It has put me in a really good situation to understand the course and push me forward.”

The timing of Warburton’s departure may have been a surprise to some but it was nothing compared to the shock to the system that Murty received.

As the search for Rangers’ 16th manager got underway, it was the second string boss who became the most important man at Ibrox.

The defeats to Dundee and Inverness Caley Thistle were hard to stomach but the reaction was a credit to Murty as two wins were secured and a point was well-earned at Parkhead.

“I think we left the players in a good place and I am proud of that and I am proud of the players and the way they reacted,” Murty said.

“But it wasn’t just me and the support I had from the staff - they all worked extremely hard to show that the new manager had a group of players who were in as good a place as possible.

“The players responded to a new manager, they showed him what they are made of and they had to put themselves in that situation and I thought they did that.

“The last two games against Celtic and Hamilton I thought they showed good character and it was good to showcase yourself as a manager.”

As the dust settled on derby day, Murty handed over the reins to Caixinha and a new era began at Ibrox with the Portuguese at the helm.

The Gers’ Head Development Squad coach has not just gone back to his previous day job, however. His input and his experience remains vital for Caixinha and Rangers.

He has been tasked with rearing the next generation of Ibrox stars but he retains an involvement with the current crop as Rangers look to finish a rollercoaster campaign on a high note.

“We drew Celtic at Parkhead on the Sunday and then on the Monday I had Dunfermline at the training ground with the Under-20s,” Murty said.

“The crowd was slightly smaller and the atmosphere was less intimidating but anything is going to be a come down after that.

“It is possibly the pinnacle of British football in terms of atmosphere, pressure and stadium environment, so anything other than that will be slightly different. It was about me managing my emotions and I think I did that at Celtic Park and it was a great lesson for me.

“I have to be aware that the Under-20s are not first-team players and I can’t put the same demands on them.

“We aren’t preparing for one game with them, because that’s what you tend to do with the senior team, we are preparing for a career with them.

“I want everything to be perfect but I have to remember they are still developing as athletes and as men.”

Murty was keen to give the plaudits to his players in the aftermath of his Old Firm bow but Gers fans were quick to praise the impact of the man who answered a call of duty.

The former defender conducted himself admirably throughout his time in charge. His interviews were honest and engaging and behind closed doors he lifted the morale of a squad that had underperformed and under-achieved for most of the campaign.

Murty put the belief back into his players. He also instilled some in himself as he considers a future career in management.

“I always had the doubt in the back of my head about whether I could do it or not and I know I feel if I got the opportunity I could handle it,” he said.

“As for whether I want to go and do it I haven’t got that far along the thought process yet.

“I’m barely existing at the moment. I’m full steam ahead going nowhere really and it’s just a case of if the opportunity came along I’m prepared.

“My wife had no doubts and told me I should believe in myself but it’s human to have doubts about yourself.

“This is a massive job and moving your family around the world as the manager has done, is a massive commitment and it’s not something I would take lightly.”

It said much about the impact that Murty made that his efforts were acknowledged by supporters as the Light Blue legions welcomed Caixinha to the club.

The Gers squad have given him some light-hearted stick for the banner that read: ‘Thanks for your efforts Graeme Murty. Welcome to the world’s most successful club Pedro’, yet it was a sign of the fans’ gratitude as power was transferred at Ibrox.

The task that Caixinha faces is even greater than the one that Murty was presented with. If the 46-year-old needs a hand, he knows who to ask.

“It’s been good and he’s very detailed,” Murty said. “He knows what he wants and he puts his message over well.

“Having excellent English has been a benefit to him. The players know how he wants to play and they know how he sees the game.

“For me it’s been a really good learning experience to see a different method in operation and be a part of it.

“He has included me in the training so it has been good. He expects me to get on with the job of helping him out.

“I make sure things are set up the way he wants it and if he needs anything it gets done.”

*Graeme Murty was promoting the Rangers Lotto ‘£20k in 2017’ campaign that aims to raise £1million for the Auchenhowie youth system.

Rangers Lotto is a hugely successful RYDC product and for just £1 fans have access to two weekly draws and a monthly rollover draw - which is currently sitting at £25,000.

All profits from the ‘£20k in 2017’ campaign will be directed to Rangers Football Club’s youth programme – and RYDC is proud to continue its unwavering commitment to the Academy which has generated more than £7 million in the last 15 years.

For more information on the RYDC and to sign up for Rangers Lotto visit www.rydc.co.uk.