IBROX gaffer target Mark Warburton insists he is fully aware of the pressure that exists to drive Rangers back to the SPFL Premiership and have them going for Celtic's throats as quickly as possible.

The former Brentford manager has held an "informal meeting" with the Light Blues as they step up their search for a permanent manager.

And he revealed he is looking for a long-term project that he and his assistant David Weir can really get their teeth into.

Warburton insists he would not accept an offer from a board looking for a short-term fix, but understands exactly what the demands would be should he receive a concrete offer from Rangers.

"Rangers and Celtic are the two big teams," he said. "Whoever comes into that seat, the job must be to get them back competing neck-and-neck with Celtic and pushing on from there.

"Whoever comes into that job must appreciate the size of the task in terms of the history of the club and where they have to be.

"This is not just about solidifying and steadying. This is about making progress in a designated period of time.

"I hope very much that we have those attributes, but I am sure many others do as well."

Stuart McCall still hopes to prove he is worthy of a long-term contract at Rangers despite failing to win promotion through the play-offs while the Aberdeen manager, Derek McInnes, is understood to be a contender.

Alex McLeish, who won two titles in a four-and-a-half year spell as Rangers manager between 2001 and 2006, is available after leaving the Belgian club KRC Genk, but it is understood he has not received any official approaches from Ibrox as yet.

Warburton has certainly made it clear that he will be particular about the kind of job he takes, having held talks with at least one other club and almost certain to be on Burnley's hitlist should their manager Sean Dyche take over the vacant role at Sunderland.

"If people are looking short-term, six to nine months, it is the wrong approach to take," he said.

"Any job that Davie Weir and I would look at would be about going in, having a project and being able to add value to any football club or football department.

"I have to be very respectful as I am sure Rangers have a big search process under way, but the key thing is to clarify expectation. What do the board and owner want from a new manager or a new coaching team?

"What will be the short, medium and long-term targets? You have to look at whether you have the attributes to come in, build the youth, use youth, utilise the current squad and make the necessary changes and prepare a team to make the move forward."

Warburton would also expect clubs, such as Rangers, looking for a new manager to act quickly ahead of the pre-season period.

"Of paramount importance to any club is timing," said Warburton. "The pre-season period is the key time in which you can introduce players and build them into the philosophy and history of the club. It is a very important time.

"I am sure any clubs looking for managers or to make a change will do so in the next two or three weeks."

Warburton, however, has given no indication of being close to any kind of deal with Rangers.

"We had an initial, informal meeting (with Rangers) and we will see how it goes from there," he said.

"It's important to see if there's a chemistry, the parties get on and your football philosophies are aligned.

"Any manager would be flattered to be linked with a club like Rangers. The tradition and the history of the club is well-known and there is a global fanbase.

"I am respectful of the fact that Rangers are undoubtedly looking at a number of candidates."