Mark Warburton: Rangers have to plot their transfer moves wisely to add quality at the right price

New Head of Recruitment Frank McParland will play a key role in shaping the Gers’ transfer strategy after moving to Ibrox to be reunited with Warburton and assistant David Weir.

The budget Warburton has at his disposal is dwarfed by even second tier teams south of the border but he has enjoyed success with his signings so far this season.

And he is ready to shop around in different places in a bid to find the players he needs to help win the Championship and then challenge in the Premiership next term.

Warburton said: “I don’t think we are competing with England. We can’t compete with the money.

“The money down south is getting bigger, the financial disparity is getting ever wider and we have to recognise that.

“We have to be shrewd and astute. If that means going overseas or looking in the lower leagues, that is what we have to do. You use your contacts and the loan market.

“There are different ways of fishing. The experience of Frank and David and various people at the club will be vital going forward.

“Use the Andre Gray scenario. He is a boy that, 15 months ago, cost £500k and went for multiples of that sum, not three or four years later, but 15 months.

“I am sure he is now worth again double that sum. The market is moving quickly so it is about finding who you think will add value.

“If someone adds value nearer seven figures, great. If they add value at £50k, great.

“It is about finding them and you making the right judgement in terms of the value they offer. That is key for us.”

The gulf in finances between Rangers and clubs in England does not just hinder Warburton in his attempts to add quality to his ranks.

Scottish teams are always likely to lose their best players across the border but the Ibrox boss is confident the Gers can handle that situation should it arise in the future.

Warburton said: “The fact of the matter is I don’t want anyone to leave the football club.

“If they leave for a sum that offers value to Rangers Football Club, it means the recruitment has been right because they’ve produced a level of performance which has attracted a bigger club from down south that can afford to pay us a fee above and beyond what we’d want to get for a player. It’s simple economics.

“If a player comes in and gets offered quadruple his wages to play down south in lower Premiership or top Championship, we aren’t going to stand in his way as long as we get the right fee for the player.

“We don’t want to be a selling club but it’s the nature of the beat.

“If the price is right for all parties it’s going to happen. What we provide here hopefully is a shop window.

“You look at it and say we are going to achieve what we can achieve, hopefully go up, hopefully get back into Europe and then if we lose a player for the right sum our job is to replace him.”