SIX days have elapsed since Rangers' season came to an end but there are now just seven weeks until the new campaign begins.

It will be a frantic, fraught spell for whoever the Ibrox board choose as the man to lead the rebuilding job on the field and there is little time to waste with the big kick-off looming ever larger for the Light Blues.

Rangers will begin the season with a Petrofac Training Cup tie on July 25 but currently have no manager and only a skeleton squad in place at Murray Park.

Supporters are keen for an appointment to be made sooner rather than later and here SportTimes looks at the key areas the new boss will have to focus on in his first few days in office.

PUT PLANS IN PLACE FOR PRE-SEASON

The lack of a summer training and match schedule three years ago was often cited as a reason behind Rangers' slow start to the Third Division campaign and the Light Blues cannot afford to have the same preparations this time around.

While teams across the country have their friendly fixtures pencilled in on the calendar, Rangers have yet to confirm who they will play before the first competitive ball is kicked next month and no trip or tour, like the one that saw them head to America twelve months ago, has been announced.

After their Petrofac Training Cup tie on July 25, Rangers will play a League Cup first round match the following weekend before beginning their bid for the Championship crown on August 8.

While the title is again the main aim this term, Rangers will be expected to challenge for all four pieces of domestic silverware and the Light Blues must make a quick start to lay down a marker of their intentions and keep supporters on board.

Right now, they are in danger of being left behind in the starting blocks.

THE OUT OF CONTRACT PLAYERS

Of the host of first team squad members whose deals expired this week, only the future of Bilel Mohnsi is clear and he will not be at Rangers next term.

There appears little chance of Lee Robinson, Steve Simonsen or Sebastien Faure pulling on a Light Blue jersey again but what about the likes of Richard Foster, skipper Lee McCulloch, Steven Smith, Ian Black and Kris Boyd?

Few fans would be upset if no new contracts were handed out this summer but, with the clock ticking, could Rangers be forced to go back to them to boost numbers?

They could be viewed upon as reliable, experienced squad players by the new manager, despite their failings this season.

The out of contract players will have to be quickly assessed and, if required, deals concluded sooner rather than later.

WHO STAYS AND WHO GOES?

Once those decisions have been made, the rest of the first team squad will have to be analysed and information gathered about the players in the Murray Park ranks who could potentially make the step up next season.

There are few sellable assets in the Ibrox squad at present and only Lee Wallace and Nicky Law are likely to bring in a fee if any suitors make their move.

Again, there would be few tears shed in the stands if many of the under-contract players were allowed to find a temporary or permanent move elsewhere this summer.

If any players are told they are free to leave, the new boss will need to have adequate replacements lined up to ensure the squad is not light on numbers and quality.

STRENGTHEN THE FIRST TEAM SQUAD

This is the biggest, and most important, task the next manager will have to undertake this summer.

A squad capable of winning the Championship this season must be assembled at short notice but also one that can be built on to potentially challenge for the Premiership in the 2016/17 campaign.

Failure to win promotion last weekend has put Rangers a year behind on where they should have been in terms of their league status but the first team pool, and general football infrastructure, is some way off the level required.

Additions will be sought in every area of the team and significant investment will be needed to ensure Rangers don't falter in the second tier once again.

A goalkeeper, right back, two centre-backs, left-back, a couple of midfielders and attacking reinforcements are needed just for starters at present.

The recruitment process must be clearly thought out and strategically planned, with any funds spent used wisely rather than the scatter-gun approach that has been present in recent years.

If youth players show potential, they should be used as and when possible but it is first team starters, and Premiership standard ones, that need to be on the shopping list this summer.

SET TARGETS FOR THE SEASON

Winning the Championship title is a must for Rangers and there can be no second slip-up in the second tier.

Hibernian and St Mirren will provide the strongest resistance next time out but fans will not settle for another promotion bid through the play-offs.

Rangers need to show that they are ready for a Premiership challenge on their return to the top flight and should be looking to progress to the latter stages of the Scottish Cup and League Cup.

If the new manager is accustomed to life at Ibrox, the levels of expectation and scrutiny should not be a surprise and he should understand what is demanded of him and his players.

If it is a newcomer to the club, however, they will have to quickly adapt to the unique situation of being Rangers boss and make an impression early on to get supporters on board for a campaign of must-win games.