RANGERS legend Derek Johnstone today heralded the dawn of a new era at Ibrox - as Dave King finally prepared to take control.

Scotland's largest and most successful club has endured four years of agony, heartache and uncertainty under a succession of despised regimes.

But genuine supporters are poised to take charge at long last - and fans who had been staying away from games in their tens of thousands are set to come flocking back.

SportTimes columnist Johnstone, who helped Rangers beat Moscow Dynamo to lift the European Cup Winners' Cup in 1972, believes a long struggle lies ahead.

However, DJ is confident the Glasgow institution can return to the forefront of our national game with the new men at the helm.

He said: "Finally, after four years of struggle and hardship and worry, Rangers fans are going to have broad smiles on their faces this afternoon.

"Everything they have been through, read and listened to has been hard to bear. It has been one negative story after another in that time.

"And all Rangers supporters have wanted in that time is for somebody they can trust in charge at Ibrox, somebody who has Rangers at heart. That is the important thing.

"Some people say: 'It doesn't matter who is in charge! They don't have to be a fan!' But look at the number of people who have been at the club in the last four years.

"There has been a steady stream of different directors and chief executives. The management has been poor throughout that time. And there has been a complete lack of trust.

"At least the fans now know they have Rangers-minded individuals who are good businessmen at the helm. A huge sigh of relief will be emitted by everyone once they get in."

Johnstone, a long-term supporter of South Africa-based businessman King, believes investors will plough money into Rangers if they feel they can trust the men in charge.

He added: "This is just the start. There is a long way to go. Kenny McDowall admitted this week that it will take five years to for Rangers to get back to where they were.

"He may be right. He is in there working on the football side of things and so he knows what needs to be done.

"It is going to take two or three years to build a new side. Whoever is appointed manager needs to be given some leeway.

"But as long as they tell the Rangers supporters that it is going to take a wee while - and they will do that - then I think it will be accepted."

Johnstone continued: "But it all depends on the financial side of things. If the new board are going to bring a substantial amount of finance in to the club then better players may soon arrive.

"They may get the quality they need to challenge Celtic. I don't want Rangers going back up to the Premiership and finishing seventh or eighth. That is not what the club is all about.

He added: "There are people out there with money who, now the right men are in charge of the club, may well come on board and invest.

"If they can see the club is stable and is being run by trustworthy individuals then I am sure they will look to put their cash in to this massive institution."