RANGERS captain Lee McCulloch today predicted the Ibrox club's young guns will be heavily involved in the Irn-Bru Second Division next season.

Light Blues manager Ally McCoist has been unable to sign players this term due to a transfer embargo and has had to rely heavily on the kids.

He is able to bring in free agents this summer – and register them with the SFA from September 1 – and is actively seeking to strengthen.

But skipper McCulloch, who will lift the Third Division trophy after the Berwick game at Ibrox on Saturday, is convinced the youngsters will continue to feature.

Speaking at the launch of his autobiography, Simp-Lee The Best, he stated: "All the players know themselves that new faces need to come in.

"If new players come in they will help the young players – and myself for that matter – and that can only be a positive for the club.

"But I think the young lads have shown they are good enough to get another chance next season."

McCulloch believes the likes of Fraser Aird, Robbie Crawford and Lewis Macleod will perform even better in the 2013/14 campaign than they have this time.

Despite winning the Third Division comfortably, the Gers team has performed poorly at times and has slumped to some embarrassing results both home and away.

They lost to bottom-placed Stirling Albion at Forthbank last year and in recent weeks have crashed to losses to tiny Annan and Peterhead at Ibrox.

Those reverses have not gone down well with the Light Blues' support and the Rangers players have often been given pelters by their own fans for their poor performances.

HOWEVER, former Motherwell, Wigan and Scotland star McCulloch thinks his team-mates will be tougher characters because of those experiences.

He explained: "The young ones who have been involved when we have not been playing well – and we have had a game or two when we have struggled – will definitely benefit from it.

"There have been times when we have got a bit of stick and I think that is a good thing for the young ones. Experiencing that will help them develop.

"It is better than getting a pat on the back every week and being told to go out and enjoy themselves. Life is not as easy as that as a Rangers player.

"The lows they have endured this season will help them come on next season. Ultimately, it will be positive for them.

"They will be stronger for it mentally. This has been a difficult season and coming through it will stand us all in good stead for the future."