RANGERS legend Derek Johnstone today paid tribute to former team-mate Colin Jackson after he died following a battle with leukaemia.

Jackson made more than 500 appearances in Light Blue during a 20 year Ibrox career and is a member of the Rangers Hall of Fame.

Following his retirement, Bomber was a driving force behind the Former Rangers' Players Benevolent Fund and was a regular at Ibrox before his health deteriorated.

Jackson is survived by wife Pam, daughter Victoria and son Christopher and DJ told SportTimes: "We have known for a while that he has not been well. He has been getting weaker and weaker but it is very sad news to hear that he has passed away.

"It sad when one of the Rangers family goes and someone who has been at the club for so many years. He worked on behalf of the former players for many years and it was a shame when he his health started to worsen.

"I am really sad for his family and my thoughts are with them. He will be sadly missed.

"He was around Ibrox for many years and it was always nice to see him there. He hasn't been there for a long time because of his health and he was certainly missed.

"People were always asking for him and there will be a lot of sad people when they hear the news."

Jackson famously missed out on a place in the starting line-up for the 1972 Cup Winners' Cup final in Barcelona but will be fondly remembered by fans for netting the winner in the 1979 League Cup final against Aberdeen.

The London-born stopper also made eight appearances for Scotland and Johnstone said: "He was a great player for Rangers and a lovely lad as well, and that is the main thing. He never had any enemies.

"As a player, you didn't give him the ball and ask him to pass it but if you asked him to mark somebody or get a goal, he could more than do that and he was a very good player.

"When I first started at Rangers, Bomber was there and I played alongside him at centre half at times. I played with him for Scotland as well.

"If he had been fit in 1972, he would have played in Barcelona and I wouldn't have. He had a fitness test in the morning and failed it and I really felt sorry for him.

"If he was fit, he would have played. It was just disappointing for him that he missed out because he was excellent for us in the run-up to the final.

"He had a terrific Rangers career and will be fondly remembered by supporters for his time at Ibrox."