Warburton urges Rangers fans to smash Ibrox season ticket sales record this summer

Nearly 38,000 Rangers fans bought season books during the 2015/16 campaign – a level of backing that helped Warburton’s side to romp to the second tier title and automatic promotion to the top flight.

Now the Englishman is hoping they can go over the 42,500 mark despite prices going up by nearly 20 per cent to the level they were at when Rangers were last in the Premiership in the 2011/12 season.

“I feel the board have shown their total commitment,” said Warburton. “We trust the board. I hope they trust us to make the right decisions. I think we are in a good place right now.

“I think the season ticket response, 37,500 this season, fantastic, incredible numbers. What we have to do now is improve that.

“If we can give the supporters a confidence in terms of our recruitment, our playing style, if we can win the Scottish Cup, then can we try and rival the previous all-time high of season tickets?

“That was 42,500, huge numbers. If we can do that the club is in a great place. That has got to be a target for us.

“It’s a tough ask, but the supporters have backed us all season, now we have to show them that we are in a good place and the club is still moving forward.”

Warburton has presented Dave King, the Rangers chairman and major shareholder, with his signing targets for the summer and is hopeful he will be able to bring in the players he has identified.

The former Brentford manager has stressed that, with the Euro 2016 finals being played in France this summer, he is hoping to strengthen his squad as early as possible.

“Recruitment is everything,” he said. “We have a good strong squad of players, but we need to add quality, experience and depth to the squad which we will do. The work has been going on for several weeks now. Hopefully, you can get as many of your permanent signings in as early as possible. That is the key.

“The EPL loans will come later. Those guys will go on tours with their respective clubs. You are looking to late July to secure any young player. Try and do your work as early as possible. With the Euros, the shelves will be empty much quicker so do your shopping early.

“Right now, we are getting the backing we need. We need to show that we know the market, which is very important.”

Meanwhile, Warburton has revealed that he knows what finishing in second place behind Celtic in the Premiership will be unacceptable to Rangers supporters next season despite the financial problems the Ibrox club continues to wrestle with.

Asked if Rangers would be able to compete for the Premiership in an interview with BT Sport, he said: “We have to. Second is last. From a Rangers perspective, second is last. You have to make sure you understand that. If you do, you are halfway there to recognising what they expect as a group of supporters and as a club.

“Next year undoubtedly the obvious challenge is Celtic with the position they are in – they have a bigger squad and are the reigning champions. The strength of Aberdeen and Hearts and all the teams? We respect it and recognise the threat they pose. But we have to put ourselves in a position to be highly competitive.”

Warburton has been linked with several managerial vacancies in England since taking over at Rangers last summer – Premier League club Everton is the latest – but stressed he is committed to the Ibrox club.

“You must be flattered surely,” he said. “When you are linked with a job it is flattering, really flattering. It isn’t a problem in my mind or Davie Weir’s mind, but we are focused here on the job in hand. We have just started what we hope is a very big project.

“When we came in here, we said we have to put in strong foundations and start to build and that is what we are doing now. It is great to be linked, but we are at a magnificent club, hopefully now everyone at the club can see daylight, our job is to keep driving in that direction. We are delighted to be here and are very privileged to be here.”