Mark Warburton’s side should focus on Hearts and Aberdeen this season, according to the former Ibrox midfielder.
Nigel Spackman (right)
Former Rangers midfielder Nigel Spackman has suggested via the Daily Record that the Ibrox side should lower their expectations this season – and consider themselves on par with Hearts and Aberdeen.
Many have tipped Mark Warburton’s side to make an immediate challenge for the Premiership title, having been promoted in May after four years away.
But competing with five-in-row winners Celtic, who won the season’s first Old Firm by a convincing 5-1 scoreline, should not concern Rangers right now, according to Spackman.
The Bhoys’ budget is far superior to that of the Light Blues, having qualified for this season’s Champions League group stage, and the 55-year-old has told his old side that a top-four finish would be “fantastic”.
“If Rangers can finish in the top four then it would be a fantastic season,” Spackman said, as quoted by the Daily Record.
“It’s going to be hard for them to compete and with the budget and size of the squad they have – a lot of these players haven’t played at this level before – then a top four finish would be a good season.
He added: “You could argue that Rangers have the second biggest budget in the league and should therefore finish second but the likes of Aberdeen and Hearts, you could even throw St Johnstone in, have established players who have been there and done it.
“They are growing all the time and Rangers need to try and compete with those clubs. It’s not about competing with Celtic just now, it’s Aberdeen and Hearts. If Rangers finish fourth it will be a good season, hopefully win one of the cups and build from there.”
Rangers have made their worst start to a season in 27 years, having claimed eight points from their first five matches.
Despite this, Warburton’s men currently occupy the final European place (third), with Hearts (second with 10 points) and Celtic (first, with 12 points and a game in hand) above them.
Aberdeen, meanwhile, have started slowly, and sit seventh with six points.
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