New duo at Rangers are on the right track

In the second half of 2011, I took it upon myself to compile a report for Rangers.

Back then I was the club’s Director of Football and felt it part of my role to suggest a viable transfer strategy that would work well in the mid-to-long term.

Unfortunately owner Craig Whyte had other priorities and it went, if not in the bin, then into a drawer and got shut away.

I mention it now because the key conclusion that Rangers should try to make value signings was the one espoused by new manager Mark Warburton at his unveiling.

The Englishman is a former city trader and the buy cheap, sell dear mantra is at the heart of his philosophy.

It is a strategy that works equally well in the financial industry and in the world of football.

It certainly worked well for Warburton at Brentford, where the recruitment of Lewis Macleod from Rangers for £850,000 typified his approach, as their success on a limited budget helped land him the Ibrox post.

To back my own argument four years ago, I looked closer to home.

Celtic have been very astute at picking up relatively unheralded players and developing them into stars who can make the step up to the English Premier League.

Recent examples include Victor Wanyama, Ki Sung-Yeung and Fraser Forster, but they have been following the strategy for years now.

My point was the very things that made Celtic attractive to incomers big crowds, close proximity to England and the opportunity to play European club games all also applied to Rangers.

Things move on and Warburton and Weir are taking charge of a club playing in Scotland’s second tier.

I believe it is a very shrewd double appointment because between them the pair should be able to pick up some players of genuine potential for the club.

The Next Gen competition which Warburton helped found wasn’t long-lived but it was high on quality.

Arsenal’s flying full back Hector Bellerin is just one of the current stars who got his start playing against other top European sides.

And while Weir has been away from Scotland, his reputation north of the border is excellent.

To play in the Champions League past the age of 40 years old was remarkable and speaks volumes for his character.

He was particularly good at helping his young team-mates remember Danny Wilson when he broke through as a 17 year old and I am sure he will be equally adept at guiding them from the dugout.

It will take time but I think they are definitely on the right track.

I don’t feel any bitterness it didn’t happen when I suggested it four years ago, but it would be nice to see the logic proved right.