Warburton confident Rangers rebuilding job is on course for completion

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MARK WARBURTON is confident Rangers are on the right track as he looks to add the finishing touches to his Ibrox blueprint.

 

The Gers boss has had a productive summer in the transfer market so far, recruiting the likes of Danny Wilson, Andy Halliday and Martyn Waghorn to bolster his ranks for the new Ladbrokes Championship campaign.

 

Hibernian star Scott Allan remains on Rangers’ shopping list in the coming weeks, despite the fact the Easter Road board have already thrown out two bids for the midfielder.

 

Warburton and assistant David Weir saw their side clinch a 6-2 win in Leith on Saturday as the Light Blues got their season off to a flying start.

 

Warburton has held discussions with chairman Dave King in recent days and the Gers boss, whose side will take on Peterhead in the League Cup on Sunday and open their Championship campaign at home to St Mirren on August 7, is keen to keep up the momentum at Ibrox.

 

He said: “We played Burnley last Tuesday and two of the boys (Waghorn and James Tavernier) had only arrived the previous afternoon.

 

“It takes time to bed in a squad and to get used to each other, but I hope you saw enough against Burnley and in the second half against Hibs to suggest there are signs we have a good group.

 

“One or two more signings are needed in terms of the depth you need for a long season.

 

“I’ve had one conversation [with King] and it was a pleasure to have it. I can’t be anything other than grateful for the support we’ve had.

 

“We’ve got every player we’ve gone for and haven’t missed out on anyone and I’m thankful for that.

 

“I think, if you look at my record and David’s record, that you’ll see we’ve used the loan market quite well. We’re always looking for players.

 

“We have some good contacts and we can offer a different type of learning for young players – for example, the chance to play in front of 45,000 at Ibrox. That’s a steep learning curve so, if we can use that, all well and good.”

 

While the build-up to Saturday’s Petrofac Training Cup clash all focused on the future of playmaker Allan, the 22-year-old is not the only midfielder on Warburton’s radar.

 

Former Derby County star John Eustace is still training with the Gers as he looks to win a deal this summer.

 

And he will step up his schedule as he continues his recovery from the knee injury he sustained whilst playing for the Rams last term.

 

Warburton said: “John’s done very well. They’ve increased his load day by day and he’s responded tremendously well – he and the medical team are working closely together.

 

“He’ll be with the group out on the training ground later this week, which is a good sign. There is no deadline for him.

 

“I’m always looking at options to improve the quality we have and John would do that but, as you saw against Burnley and Hibs, we already have choices in those positions.”

 

Warburton gave several of his new recruits the chance to impress as they eased past their Championship title rivals on his competitive debut as boss.

 

All of the summer signings have shown up well in their opening games, but the re-modelling work continues for Warburton.

 

And the Englishman is determined to stick with his philosophy of putting his faith in up-and-coming talents.

 

Warburton said: “If you look at our squad we have the likes of Kenny Miller, Cammy Bell and, potentially, John Eustace, then we have enough senior professionals.

 

“I’m all about them mentoring the hungry, younger players, the ones with potential.

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“They’re the ones you want, the ones who will learn from this season and all the various competitions.

 

“The young, hungry squad, well-mentored, is our formula. You learn from your experiences and, if we can give them the right level and variety of challenges, we should be in good shape.”

 

http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/sport/13502880.Warburton_confident_Rangers_rebuilding_job_is_on_course_for_completion/

[ian1964 10,448]

Mark Warburton is in it to win it at Rangers

 

IT is not about the taking part ... it is about the winning for Mark Warburton and Rangers.

 

The Petrofac Training Cup may not be at the top of the new Ibrox manager’s wish list this season, but that doesn’t diminish his determination to lift the silverware.

 

He is in it to win it.

 

Having already toppled their biggest rivals for the competition on Saturday as Hibernian were swept aside in an eight-goal thriller at Easter Road, the odds on Rangers emerging victorious come April are expectedly short.

 

The memories of recent years show that upsets can happen, though, and Rangers only need to recall the penalty shoot-out defeat to Queen of the South, final turmoil against Raith Rovers or capitulation at Alloa to know they can take nothing for granted this term.

 

It is the Ladbrokes Championship title that is Warburton’s main aim in his first season in Scottish football and, for his sake as well as Rangers’, failure is not an option.

 

But the 52-year-old will treat every challenge, every opponent and every 90 minutes with the same careful planning and same intensity as he looks to make his mark at Ibrox.

 

Rangers will face Peterhead in League Cup action and St Mirren and Alloa on Championship duty before they meet Ayr United at Somerset Park in their Petrofac second-round tie next month.

 

And Warburton will ensure his side are in prime shape and fully equipped to tackle the Honest Men as they look to compete on all four fronts this term.

 

“I don’t know a great deal about Ayr, but I will do by the time we play them,” the former Brentford boss said.

 

“It’ll be a tough place to go to, though, and I’m sure I’ll be told that much by David Weir.

 

“We look forward to it. We have an idea about them because we played them in a closed-door game but, as it was for us, it was in the early part of their pre-season preparations.

 

“I’m sure they’ll have come together as a team, so we’ll need to put in a certain level of performance.

 

“Any competition you go into you want to win it, but it also offers all of our players the chance to be involved. It’s not about an 11 or 14, it’s about using your entire squad and making sure that every single player, at any given time, is in shape to play for you.

 

“That’s how it should work, so we’ll keep it lean and keep it tight and make sure that everyone feels part of it.”

 

Warburton has spent recent weeks overhauling his Ibrox squad and has given his major summer signings – Wes Foderingham, James Tavernier, Danny Wilson, Rob Kiernan, Andy Halliday, Jason Holt and Martyn Waghorn – chances to make positive impressions in the friendly fixture against Burnley last week and cup clash with Hibs on Saturday.

 

The Gers boss referred to the Easter Road trip as ‘game four’ in terms of his side’s preparations ahead of the new Championship campaign, which starts at home to St Mirren a week on Friday.

 

And Warburton hopes getting their first win on the board will lead to further successes for Rangers this term.

 

He said: “From our point of view, we have new players coming to the club and you want to win games because winning becomes a habit. It’s an old saying, but it’s true.

 

“I want to win every single game, as every team should do, so we’ll be prepared as best as we can be for every match that we play.

 

“It’s important, having entered the tournament, that we win it or, at least, go as far as we possibly can in it. Our aim is to collect the trophy.”

 

While the Championship title remains the biggest and most sought-after prize for Rangers this term, the Light Blues cannot afford to take their eye off the ball when it comes to knockout action.

 

The battle on four fronts is a tricky one to fight and will require every player in Warburton’s newly-assembled squad to play their part in the coming weeks and months.

 

And the Gers boss will mix and match to ensure that Rangers remain on the right course through his maiden campaign in the dugout.

 

Warburton said: “I don’t see it as fighting a war – I see it as an educational opportunity for our young players.

 

“You want to give your defensive and midfield units the chance to work together, so you’ve got to use every opportunity that comes along.

 

“The senior players can handle all of the fun, so to speak, but we also need to make sure that it fits into a balanced schedule and I think it will do.

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“At Brentford last season we were playing Tuesday/Saturday every single week and that was tough.

 

“That’s not so prevalent in Scotland, but we’ll look to use the games we have to our benefit.”

 

http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/sport/13502884.Mark_Warburton_is_in_it_to_win_it_at_Rangers/