DAVE McPHERSON believes the excitement and anticipation around Rangers under Mark Warburton reminds him of the Souness Revolution nearly 30 years ago.

McPherson, who had two spells at Ibrox, feels there are many parallels now to the summer of 1986 when a bright new dawn developed that not only changed Rangers but Scottish football as a whole.

The circumstances are entirely different because Souness, with the help of David Holmes, re-awoke a sleeping giant while now Rangers are cleansing themselves of gross mis-management and building the club once more in all aspects.

However, McPherson believes that the vibe is very much the same. A huge feelgood factor has developed among the supporters who seem completely united once more.

They are excited about what they see on the field and existing players have been reinvigorated by the new regime – just as they were in the mid-eighties.

McPherson said: “It’s a complete change and a fresh start and I think everyone has bought into it because that’s what they craved.

“It’s certainly like 1986 when everyone started to look forward instead of backwards and it’s good to see.

“Back then the circumstances were different in the sense that it was a transitional period in terms of football and there was absolutely no comparison to the hellish off-field problems that Rangers have suffered since Craig Whyte went in.

“You can have a period of transition at any football club and they have all had them.

“One team can be really successful and then they fall away and it’s a rebuilding process.

“The club desperately needed change both on and off the park at that time.

“The whole club just went from strength to strength and that’s what you can see happening now.

“I think there was a change of attitude in the mid-80s. It had been a bit stale and a bit old-fashioned and David Holmes came in and shook it all up.

“He had some very good business ideas, but, of course, it was the notion to bring in higher profile players, starting with Souness himself, which really made the big difference.

“That really helped the younger players who were there – me included – because we had been unsure where the club was going.

“We were young players learning the game but there were a lot of changes with older players coming to the end of their careers and leaving.

“All of sudden big names were coming in and that’s what you want when you want to develop as a player.

“There was stability in the team and you knew it was going to get better and better.

“OK there might not be the same level of player coming in now as Terry Butcher or Chris Woods but that stability is there and you can see the players who have come in are of a good standard – and can get better.

“These guys have come from the Championship so they should be able to play well here and bring on those around them.

“You can see there has been a reaction from players like Nicky Law, Lee Wallace, Barrie McKay and David Templeton.

“And it was the same in 1986/87 when players like Davie Cooper, Ally McCoist, Ian Durrant and myself embraced what was happening and it brought out the best in us.”

In 1986, unlike the present day, there was no corporate carnage to deal with and Souness in tandem with and then succeeded by Walter Smith created arguably the greatest period in the club’s history.

They won the title for the first time in nine years in 1987 and then from 1988/89 promptly won it nine times in succession.

The Dave King takeover came too late to save last season but with the slate virtually wiped clean, McPherson feels there is another great era about to begin at Ibrox.

He said: “If there are no problems in the boardroom then it’s all about just getting the right players in and they seem to be on the right road.

“There has been a real freshness in all aspects because Mark Warburton has brought some new players in from down south.

“I think the biggest difference is the stability off the park and that has led to stability on it. It’s a fresh start for everybody.

“The supporters are really excited about what is happening and you can understand why.

“There has been so much negativity about the club over the past four years. It was all doom and gloom.

“There was one bad story after another during this period and the fans were the ones that suffered the most.

“However, since the club was taken over by people with the club at heart, a new management team has come in, new players have come in and the fans are so much more upbeat.

“And the improvement all-round is not just good for Rangers it’s good for the Scottish game overall.

“I know only three game have been played but there seems to be a lot more confidence and I’m sure a lot of that is down to the stability off the park.

“I don’t think there is any doubt the players were affected in the last three years.

“Of course, you can’t beat a few successive victories to increase confidence and with the fans returning in their doves that feeds onto the field and the players react accordingly.

“You then go from strength to strength and it really looks as though this is the start of something special at Rangers.”

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