THE answers are delivered with ease, the conversation pleasant, as Graeme Murty offers insights into his players, his philosophy and his relationships at Rangers.

It is only when he becomes the subject that Murty pauses. In fairness, he does have a lot to think about after a whirlwind couple of years at Ibrox.

He has ended that journey back where he started it. After a spell as interim boss and then manager, Murty once again oversees the Under-20s squad and has a key role in the Academy structure at the Hummel Training Centre.

The experiences were mixed to say the least but there were highs as well as lows for the boss that Dave King would later call his ‘man of the year’. But, has he changed as a coach? Has he improved?

“I think, once again, that is a question for other people,” Murty says. “Myself, I just try and go on the pitch and give my best to the players.” Then he pauses.

A couple of seconds pass. “I think it is a really good question, actually,” he continues. “The reflective person that I am...”

Then he pauses. You can almost see the cogs turning, the memories flashing through Murty’s mind like a showreel.

“I am the same person,” he says, “with more experience, with better knowledge, better able to serve the players. I think.

“The time that I have spent at this football club has made me a better coach, it has given me greater experience, it has given me greater understanding of what our players need to do to get to the next level. And I think, because of that, the level that I deliver to them has improved.”

Supporters will have contrasting views on Murty’s two tenures in the dugout but those that called him for duty twice were appreciative of his efforts in trying, at times verging on the impossible, circumstances.

Many where surprised when Murty, who turned 45 on Wednesday, returned to the Academy following Steven Gerrard’s appointment as boss. He has picked up where he left off, though.

“I came up here to coach, I still want to coach,” he said. “I think I am a coach. I think I am quite good at it.

“But my energy will always go towards those people that will embrace messages and development and change and that has not changed from the very moment that I set foot in the club.

“I am not the same, but my intentions towards coaching our young players has been and always will be to try and get the best out of them.”

Murty has rarely been one to pat himself on the back and his only self-reflection is to offer constructive criticism, to seek improvement.

He should take pride in the progress his Under-20s – Development League and Youth Cup winners – made last term, while the start this time around has been more than encouraging.

“I credit the players with giving me energy, actually,” Murty said. “There are days when you come in… you leave when it’s dark, you get home when it’s dark and everyone is in the same boat.

“It is hard sometimes to be as good as you want to be because you are delivering for the players. But I have to say that this group of players give me fantastic energy, I feed off them as much as, hopefully, they are learning from us and the staff feed off their energy and enthusiasm.

“When things are going well, as they are at the moment, the guys are in a good place and it is almost a case of putting the reins on them. I give the young players, for what they have done, great credit for keeping not only myself motivated but me hungry to want to improve myself so I can deliver better quality for them.”

Murty will be one of the first to look himself in the mirror at the end of each day but he is happy for others to judge him and critique his work.

The Academy is moving in the right direction. Progress still has to be made, though, and that process will never cease.

“Our Head of Coach Development, Neil Mackintosh, has just been down south having a look at different things being done and obviously I have worked in England and we have a knowledge of what is going on there,” Murty said. “We will always be open to going there, but also open for people to come to us.

“I did a session at Hampden the other night showing guys what we do and we are open, we are prepared for it to be deconstructed by other people, to be analysed critically to get to a better place.

“If we have an ego about it and if we get offended by someone correcting us, I think we have got a problem. I don’t think we have.”

The mantra of ‘best v best’ runs through the system that is overseen by Craig Mulholland, the Head of Academy, and new Sporting Director Ross Wilson will now have a hand in shaping the infrastructure and the futures of the scores of kids that all share the same dream.

Rangers’ efforts have been recognised in recent times but Murty and his staff know there is no time to sit and take stock. If you stand still, you get left behind.

“I think we are very open to new ideas,” Murty said. “Within football, in general, everyone is looking for that next stage, that next wave.

“A few years ago in first team football it was tactical periodisation, it was a method of working that was very different. Coaches are now looking to be at the front of the next wave, whatever that may be, and Academies are exactly the same. Everyone is trying to get one leg up and do better for their young players.”

As players rise through the ranks, their time with the Under-20s is their final stop. From there, they either make it at Rangers or they don’t.

The challenge of bridging that gap to the first team is not a new one but Murty hopes Rangers will have more solutions to the problem to enable as many kids as possible to live the dream.

“It is the big question and we would like to think that we have all the answers, but we don’t,” he said. “It needs to be a collaborative view and everyone coming together for the sake of the team.

“We are really open in what we do and how we operate and what we want to do is prepare more, better players for this football club and the national team. We think we have made a good start but we are only a few years into this journey.

“There is more to come, there are improvements to be made and we are striving on a daily basis to get better and if that strengthens us and the country then that would be fantastic.”

*Rangers Academy coach Graeme Murty is pictured promoting Rangers Pools for the Rangers Youth Development Company and fans can sign up now at www.rangerspools.com.

Existing subscribers and anyone who joins up before November 30has the chance to win VIP tickets for the Cheltenham Gold Cup next year, a Mini Cooper plus tickets for Rangers v Hearts at Ibrox on December 1.

Rangers Pools profits are ring-fenced exclusively for the upkeep and maintenance of Ibrox Stadium.

And Graeme’s Rangers Colts are in Challenge Cup quarter final action against Wrexham today at Ibrox - you can pay at the gate in the front of the Sandy Jardine Stand priced £10 for adults and £5 for kids.