KENNY MILLER today urged the Rangers fans who packed out Ibrox for the SPFL Premiership play-offs to return next season and roar their heroes to promotion.

Miller was, like every Gers fan, left distraught at the weekend when he was unable to help his boyhood heroes see off Motherwell in the play-off final.

Stuart McCall's men were soundly thrashed by Ian Baraclough's boys in both matches last week - losing 3-1 at Ibrox and then crashing to a 3-0 defeat at Fir Park.

The second leg loss on Sunday, which was marred by ugly scenes as Bilel Mohsni sparked an on-field brawl after the final whistle, brought a sorry end to their ill-fated Premiership bid.

Many of Miller's team mates - including Ian Black, Kris Boyd and Lee McCulloch - will almost certainly move on now from Ibrox now after their contracts expired.

And there are huge questions marks over whether Nine-In-A-Row great McCall, whose short term deal has also run out, will be appointed on a full-time basis after his charges' failure.

Rangers have endured a harrowing few years both on and off the park as their financial problems have persisted and the side has struggled to fulfil massive expectations.

And, despite the change of regime at the troubled Glasgow institution back in March, the situation at present is concerning for the remaining players and the supporters.

The Light Blues have no manager, have lost the bulk of their first team squad and are facing another term in the second tier of Scottish football.

With Hibs, who have this week signed Fraser Fyvie and James Keatings, set to be stronger in the 2015/16 campaign, there is no guarantee they will go up at the second time of asking.

The presence of Falkirk, Queen of the South and St Mirren will also make their ultimate ambition of completing "The Journey" from the bottom division to the top league problematic.

However, former Scotland internationalist Miller, set to return for at least another season after being handed an extension to his current agreement, has never been one to shirk a challenge.

He prefers to focus on the positives - and a huge plus for him was the incredible backing that Rangers received from their followers in the quarter-final, semi-final and final matches.

Club officials set ticket prices at just £5 after their move to repay season ticket holders for their support by letting them in for free was blocked by the SPFL.

And the games against Queens, Hibs and Motherwell also attracted huge turnouts of 48,035, 41,236 and 49,200 respectively.

The crowd for the first leg of the final last Thursday was the largest of the entire 2014/15 campaign by some considerable distance.

It was far removed from earlier this season when the number of people filing through the turnstiles at Ibrox at league games dropped below the 20,000 mark for the first time in nearly 30 years.

The 35-year-old, who showed improved form after McCall took charge in March and netted important goals against Hearts twice and Hibs twice, was encouraged by the response.

Briefs obviously won't be as affordable for Championship games next term as they were for punters in the three play-off matches last month.

Nevertheless, Miller, who remembers when big Rangers games sold out quickly from his previous two spells in Govan, remains optimistic many of those who came along to the play-off games will come back.

He believes it will make a massive difference to his side's prospects of success in the league and cup competitions if they can turn their stadium into Fortress Ibrox for visiting teams once again.

"The fact that the fans turned out in such large numbers was fantastic for us," he said. "They were absolutely amazing for us over the course of the three games at Ibrox.

"We were all disappointed we weren't able to give them something to shout about in the first leg at Ibrox last Thursday and then again at Fir Park on Sunday.

"It wasn't due to a lack of effort on the boys' part. You set out to put in a performance whenever you take to the field and sadly sometimes it doesn't happen for you.

"We don't set out in a game to up our performance levels just because there are more fans inside the stadium. We want to win every game we play in. We want to perform well in every game.

"Yeah, it was great that they are right behind us. They played a crucial role for us in the play-off games against both Queen of the South and Hibs.

"So, as I say, we were disappointed for them at how things turn out in the end. Having said that, we were just as disappointed for ourselves as well.

"Our performance levels weren't as good as we had hoped they would be. It just didn't fall for us up front. We created chances in the first leg and didn't take them. We paid a high price for that."

Miller added: "Attendances at Ibrox have been low at times for various reasons this season, but I don't think there was any doubt the fans were always out there.

"The supporters are quite entitled to vent their frustrations at what is happening at the club whichever way they want.

If that means not turning up or alternatively coming along and letting their unhappiness known at games they are entitled to do that. Nobody could blame them for that.

"As players we fully understand the frustrations they have had this year. It has been due to the lack of good performances or things which have gone on off the field.

"But we have loved running out to full houses in the three play-off games at Ibrox and the Championship game against Hearts back in April.

"When you get a goal you can here them roaring you forward to get another goal. It was great. They were absolutely outstanding.

"But, let's be honest here, they've been outstanding for three years. This season has been tough for everyone involved at the club.

"But the numbers have come back through the play-offs and the noise levels at games have increased. Hopefully we can regroup, rebuild and give them something to shout about next season too."