Warburton delight at new deal

Just a few days away from the season opener away to Motherwell in the newly rechristened Betfred Cup, Mark Warburton and Davie Weir have given players and fans alike a huge boost by signing an extension to their contracts. Securing the highly-rated management duo until 2019 will prove to be the best bit of business the Rangers board will have done all summer and will allow the club to continue making the massive strides it has made since the financial meltdown of 2012.

Having already dished out new contracts to several key first-team players like Jason Holt, Lee Wallace and Barrie McKay, the board felt it was imperative that they also offered improved terms to the former Brentford pair and ward off any potential interest from clubs down south. Most importantly though it offers some long-term consistency to continue the work behind the scenes aimed at making Rangers one of the top clubs in Europe.

Speaking to the club's website, Warburton spoke of his delight at signing a new deal saying: "I am delighted, I feel very privileged to be manager of a club of such stature and David and I realise that so we are thrilled to prolong it, so to speak.

"We started the work last season, the foundational work and we see it as a long term project.

"We know where Rangers need to be and we think we know how we get there so it’s great to be given that opportunity.

Part of the manager's motivation was showing loyalty to the club, and players who served him well in his first 12 months in Glasgow, and was looking forward to being able to implement his long-term plans saying: "It is important to show commitment otherwise you can’t talk to your players about commitment, but it is about timing.

"Right now we are committed and we know what we have to do, from day one the Chairman and the board made it clear where Rangers has to get back to and it’s a pleasure to play a part in that.

"This has given us the security aspect on both sides, knowing that you are there to try and carry out your plans.

"Ideas are great, you can set targets but you have to carry them through. Do you know what you want to do? Do you know what you’re aiming for and how to achieve it?

"They are the key questions you have to ask so all we’re saying now is this is what we have to do and this is how we think we get there and these are the plans in place that hopefully allow us to be successful.

"It is a long term plan so we have to put our heads down as a group of staff and a group of players and achieve the various goals."

Despite the success of last season Warburton is aware he can't rest on his laurels and survive off the back of previous success. With over 41,000 season tickets sold this season and Rangers back in the top-flight for the first time since 2011/12 the former Brentford boss knows the expectations are high. He said: "The fans have to see progress, they are a passionate support, they season ticket sales have been outstanding and they need to see progress in their football club. If we can keep doing that we’ll be okay.

"As a young football fan growing up Glasgow Rangers was always one of the big names so you get here and realise it’s the passion of the fans, it’s walking out at Ibrox and it’s driving into the training ground.

"It’s a great feeling and you never get bored of that, you always recognise that and are very thankful, it is a great club to be associated with and it’s a privilege to be here."