LEE WALLACE heard the Ibrox roar ... and he knew Rangers were back on the right track.

Those feelings have been a long time coming and many feared they would take even longer to return, but, through it all, Wallace never gave up hope.

After years of trouble off the park and toil on it, there is a far different feeling around Rangers, not just at Murray Park or Ibrox amongst the Gers squad, but on the streets and in the stands.

There is encouragement and excitement – belief in those at the top of the Marble Staircase and belief in those in the dugout.

As the clock ticked down, and with the game against Peterhead already won last weekend, the Light Blue legions roared their approval as Mark Warburton’s side knocked the ball about with speed and precision, playing an entertaining brand of football and creating a succession of chances.

A sell-out crowd is expected at Ibrox tonight for the Ladbrokes Championship opener against St Mirren, and Wallace reckons the backing from the stands and new football philosophy will make a fearsome combination this term.

“It’s huge. And just on that, when that happened, the goose bumps that I got,” he said. “I spoke to a couple of the other boys about it. It was great. So, I think they need to know that.

“Those moments and that support will help us and give us an extra 10 per cent in our legs at that stage of a game.

“I had that first time around. I got a small taste of it in the SPL at that point and in a couple of Champions League qualifiers, of course. It will be great to get that back.

“I have always remained positive and have always stood by my decision to stay. I kept a positive mindset, although there were bad times, and I believed that we would see the club back and that has been reinforced with how we have gone about our business this pre-season.

“I feel ever so strongly that it will be this time around as long as we keep working hard, listening to David Weir, learning with the manager, learning from the new style of play, imposing ourselves, bringing our strengths to the table. I do, I feel really confident this year without being arrogant.”

It is some time since Rangers fans have gone into a season with this kind of feelgood factor, or a squad has entered a league campaign promising so much.

The seven Warburton signings have all impressed so far, while the likes of Wallace have been rejuvenated after a league term that was up there with the worst many fans have ever lived through.

While the summer offered time to reflect, the return to action has only served to heighten expectations as Rangers set their sights on the Championship title once again.

“It was a shorter break, but it was one that you wanted over quickly because of the disappointments of last season,” Wallace said. “But I will try to stay away from the disappointments of last season as much as I can and be positive.

“As soon as the news broke about the manager and David coming in the excitement started. Even when we were away and there was a week to go until pre-season we were itching to get back in here, get the testing done, get the first few weeks of pre-season games and then get into the real deal.

“We are at that stage now. We are definitely looking forward to it. The new guys have got into it well, they have integrated well. The manager is huge on value on and off the pitch. The guys who have come in have provided that.

“They have quality on and off the pitch and how they conduct themselves on and off the training ground. It has been great. It has been a good transition, smoother than a lot of folk might have guessed, but there is obviously still time with how we are going to play this season.

“There have been two games so far this season and we are doing fine, but there is a lot of hard work ahead and a lot of quality still to come from us.”

The journey to a potential Premiership place begins on home soil for Rangers tonight, but they will soon hit the road and return to venues which hold painful memories from last term.

Trips to Alloa and Queen of the South, where Rangers struggled badly under Ally McCoist and Kenny McDowall, are on the horizon for Warburton’s side.

But Wallace insists the away days will hold no fear for a new-look squad benefitting from a fresh approach both on and off the park.

He said: “I don't think it will be too tricky because we are well aware of it. We sampled those places last year. It's just about reinforcing this mindset that we are Rangers now.

“With the greatest of respect to these teams, we know it will be difficult, but it's about imposing our strengths, imposing our tempo and showing we are Rangers and we will play at Rangers' intensity.

“That's the mindset that is being drilled into us. I'm happy with that approach. We'll show the opposition respect, but we want to send the message out that we are a whole new team this year."