THE clock is ticking for Mark Warburton.

The date of July 25 will be circled on the calendar on his desks at Ibrox and Murray Park, with each day that passes another where something has to have been achieved.

The work for Warburton and David Weir started as soon as the cameras had stopped rolling and the barrage of questions had died down on Monday afternoon ... and the new Light Blues management team now have a big job to do in a short space of time.

Plans must be made, fixtures arranged, players brought in or moved on as the football department of Rangers is given a much-needed overhaul.

There is just six weeks left until the new era kicks off with a Petrofac Training Cup first-round tie, and here SportTimes looks at what Warburton has got, and what he needs, as he attempts to hit the ground running.

GOALKEEPER

THE departures of Steve Simonsen and Lee Robinson at the end of their deals leaves Cammy Bell as the only first-team keeper on the books at Ibrox.

Even before his howler against Motherwell in the play-off final at Fir Park, many fans were unconvinced the 28-year-old was the man to put their faith in long-term.

Bell is a steady enough goalie and replacing him will not be top of Warburton’s to-do list this summer, but another shot-stopper is likely to arrive to provide competition for the gloves.

Liam Kelly, the Under-21 keeper, and youngster Robby McCrorie are both highly-rated, but it would be too much of a gamble to entrust them with prominent first-team roles in such a crucial season for Rangers.

DEFENCE

THE back four was the root of Rangers’ problems last season and is the area that arguably requires the most work in the coming weeks.

With Richard Foster, Lee McCulloch, Bilel Mohsni, Sebastien Faure and Steven Smith off the books, Warburton has a lot of places to fill and there is plenty of room for improvement from recent years.

Of those that remain, only Lee Wallace looks like a confirmed starter next season, but Darren McGregor, Rangers’ Player of the Year last term, has done enough to stake his claim for a place at centre-half or right-back.

Marius Zaliukas is also still contracted, but is unlikely to be one of the first names on the teamsheet once the wheeling and dealing has been completed this summer.

Danny Wilson has already been linked with a return to Ibrox, while there is plenty of talk around kids Ryan Sinnamon, Craig Halkett and Luca Gasparotto.

All three have yet to get a chance to prove themselves at first-team level and will hope to make the most of Warburton’s willingness to give youth a chance next season.

It leaves the Gers boss requiring a right-back, if not two, at least two central defenders and cover at left-back as he attempts to shore up a porous defensive line.

A dominant defender who can handle the physical aspects of the Championship and give Rangers a presence at both ends of the park is required and Warburton could look to integrate a more ball-playing centre-half into the team as he attempts to bring the style of play up to date next season.

MIDFIELD

IF Rangers are to play the brand of quick, attacking, expressive football that Warburton prefers, his recruits in the middle of the park will be central to the Light Blues’ success.

Ian Black and Kyle Hutton have gone after once again failing to make an impact last season, but the man who replaced them, Andy Murdoch, has shown promise and will look to improve in his first full season at this level next time out.

A return for Lewis Macleod has already been mooted, and would be widely welcomed by the Ibrox crowd, and he is the kind of player that Rangers will need to acquire in midfield.

Nicky Law and Dean Shiels remain as options, and so too does Robbie Crawford, but it will take a transformation in form, and the goodwill of supporters, if they are to be given another chance next season.

For too long, Rangers have been a soft touch in midfield and offered too little in an attacking sense, so a powerful, ball-winning player and a playmaker with a touch of guile should be sought.

In wider areas, Tom Walsh has shown flashes that he could make an impact at Ibrox, but David Templeton and Fraser Aird were rarely seen during the second half of the season and too often have flattered to deceive.

Warburton may feel he can bring out the best in them, but there will surely be additions to provide a creative spark from midfield, with quick, tricky and technically adept players the route Rangers are likely to go down.

ATTACK

GOALS win games and Rangers don’t have enough players capable of getting them.

With just two recognised forwards – Kenny Miller and Nicky Clark – on the books, Warburton must find a striker capable of reaching the 20-goals-a-season target that Rangers attackers should be achieving every campaign.

Murray Park kids Calum Gallagher and Ryan Hardie are capable of providing back-up but, although they have shown promise when given a chance to shine, they can’t be relied upon to be the focal point of the forward line just yet.

Miller and Clark netted just 18 times between them last season, and Rangers must be more clinical in front of goal if they are to clinch the Championship crown this term.

Sourcing a striker that provides a regular stream of goals, and is capable of doing so in the Premiership, will not come cheap, but any investment in this area could prove shrewd business for Rangers.