THE best. They are the lyrics that reverberate around Ibrox and the message that is engrained in those at Murray Park.

It is the position Rangers are striving for, one they aspire to reach at all levels. They are recovering from their lowest point but determined to experience the highs once again.

Ian Durrant has been at both ends of the scale. From the heady days of nine-in-a-row as a player and success in the dugout under Walter Smith, the Light Blue legend has suffered as much as anyone at the club in recent years.

Now, there is light at the end of the tunnel and he is determined to play his part in the rebuilding job. He and his Under-20 squad are on their own version of The Journey.

Glasgow Times: David Weir will assist Mark Warburton at Rangers after clinching his return to the club on Monday

The arrival of Mark Warburton in the summer could have signalled an end for Durrant, but it has been the platform upon which he has built, and will continue to do so.

The message from Warburton every day is to be the best you can be. Then, when tomorrow comes, you strive for improvement and progress all over again.

It is a mantra that is in place from the bottom up, that permeates the football department at Murray Park.

Like all areas of the club, Rangers’ youth development structure has suffered in recent years as each chapter in the tale has been written. Everyone behind the blue crested gates is determined to make sure the next few make far more pleasant reading, though.

“Of course it can be [the best in Europe], and we are striving to be the best,” Durrant said of Rangers’ Auchenhowie Academy.

“There will be no shortcuts taken. We will produce a quality of player that will push for the first team and hopefully the manager can be proud of the youth academy.

Glasgow Times:

“I look at it as trying to get and keep the best players you can. We are trying to get the best and be the best we can in this environment.

“I have always enjoyed working with the youths, it is great. There were a couple of hard years. There are ups and downs and, by God, I have had them.

“It is hard when you have a level of success and it is taken away from you but it gives you the desire and hunger to go and get it back again.

“I am working with good people, for the club I love and for people who are helping to make it a better place.”

There is still some way to go before the system in place at Rangers will be regarded as one of the finest in the game. Ideas and inspiration are not in short supply, but it will take time for the methods to come to fruition.

After overhauling his first team squad in the summer, Warburton has started adding to his backroom team in recent weeks as much-needed numbers have been added to a depleted staff.

Glasgow Times: WALTER Smith sat alongside Ian Durrant and David Murray as he watched the first 35 minutes of Saturday's game from the stand

Durrant could easily have found himself cast aside in the opening weeks of the Warburton era, but he is relishing the challenge and has been rejuvenated by it.

“I am year to year,” the former Ibrox midfielder said.

“If you are still doing well, you will carry on in your job. If someone else comes in, that is football and you have to step aside.

“I couldn’t have asked for more, I have got great help in the Academy with Craig Mulholland, Billy Kirkwood and Billy McLaren and, of course, the manager.

“He checks up on us all the time and he wants to see that progression to the first team. That is the goal.

“The gaffer has brought in staff, so there is a familiarity there and they are all integrating well.”

Of those that surround Durrant, some are old faces and some recent acquaintances. The likes of Mulholland, the Head of Academy, and Kirkwood and McLaren remain, while Neil McIlhargey has been appointed Head of Analysis and Craig Flannigan Head of Performance and Preparation.

Glasgow Times: Rangers Head of Recruitment Frank McParland

It is the recruitment of Frank McParland that has grabbed the most attention and could have the most profound impact, though.

The former Liverpool youth chief left his position at Burnley to become Head of Recruitment at Ibrox and Durrant is confident it will be another shrewd signing from Warburton.

“Frank is hands on across the board,” he said. “He has got a wealth of contacts and whether it is 14s, 15s, 16s or the first team, he has carte blanche across the levels and in charge of everything.

“He has been on to Craig already and there have been a couple of sniffs about for players for next year. His influence will be through the club and that is great because he has got a great network.

When you look into what he has done and what he has achieved, he has got a fantastic record.”

With the right people on the touchline, the aim now at Murray Park has to be getting the right players on the park.

The journey from promising youngster to first team star is one that Durrant strode along and the 49-year-old hopes he can help more kids realise their blue heaven.

He said: “You have got to have a winning mentality. That is bred in you here, you don’t make it at Rangers if you are not a winner.

“We have to develop players. I would be delighted if they did win the league or a cup because it is a short career.

Glasgow Times: Rangers winger Barrie McKay

“There is a big world out there, you have to go and conquer it sometime. I hope they conquer it here and play with Rangers.

“It would be great for the whole staff. You want to see players from the Academy in the first team, it has always happened at Rangers.

“The fans appreciate young players coming through and playing for the team.”

 

*Rangers legend Ian Durrant was promoting the Rangers Youth Development Company and their official, weekly Rangers Lotto game.

The Rangers Youth Development Co. awards over £300,000 in prize money each year to fans who play Rangers Lotto for only £1 per week. It’s a double win situation for Rangers supporters as all profit from the sale of Rangers Lotto tickets is directed to the Rangers Youth Programme.

Fans interested in becoming Official Rangers Lotto Agents or who simply wish to play weekly for only £1 can email rydc@rangers.co.uk, call 0141 427 4914 or visit www.rydc.co.uk.

More than £5.5million has been donated to the Rangers Youth Programme in the last decade – and Greatest Ever Ranger John Greig pledged his support recently by joining their board.

Rangers fans can support the Rangers Youth Development Co. in a variety of ways – full details on Rangers Lotto, Rising Stars, Scratchcards, Stadium Bricks and other initiatives can be found at www.rydc.co.uk.