IBROX icon John Brown believes Mark Warburton won't follow old sparring partner Alan Stubbs to the English Championship because he's in love with Rangers.

There are several chairmen down south who admire the Rangers manager and throughout last season there was interest from, among others, Fulham.

Brown knows that even the smallest club in English football's second tier can outspend every Ladbrokes Premiership side bar Celtic.

And even the Parkhead club's summer transfer of budget is dwarfed by most teams in the league.

Warburton is sure to be linked with other clubs; however, nine-in-a-row legend Brown is confident the Englishman is staying put for now.

Brown said: "I think he’s come up here and fallen in love with the club.

"He didn’t have vast experience in the game - a couple of years at Brentford and involved in the youth set up elsewhere - so to come up here and see a team in the Championship drawing 50,000 home gates would have blown him away.

“Any player I played with was in tears when they left this place. Experienced guys like Ray Wilkins; his last game against Dunfermline there wasn’t a dry eye in the place.

“For every player, this club and this city does something to you and I think it has caught Mark. But it’s a business and if he’s doing really well - and he’s had a fantastic first season - then there are going to be people chapping at the door.

“Rangers will try to keep a hold of him but if he eventually looks to move on, you wouldn’t have any complaints.”

And when Warburton does move on, Brown believes the club would have a perfect replacement in David Weir.

Over 30,000 season tickets have been bought by supporters before today's deadline and by some distance the former captain and current No2 is the most popular figure at the club among the fan-base.

Brown said: "I think David is a natural successor?

"He always had the respect of the dressing room and was a leader on the park. When Walter signed him, he thought he’d get a year or two, yet he was still playing in the Premier League at the age of 40 and winning it.

“I think Davie has great experience and it wouldn’t faze him one bit.

"Working with Mark has been a great help but he’s worked with Walter for a number of years and I’m sure he’ll still speak to him.

“We have guys like John Greig as well, who can bounce ideas off if he thinks he needs to.”

Today's Rangers side could do with someone such as Weir in their ranks for next season

Brown does not wish to see a big turnover at the club, but sees an urgent need to strengthen the central defender.

He said: "That’s an area I look at having been a defender. I do think they need to tighten up because the team has been free-flowing with full-backs bombing on, that leaves you a bit exposed at the back.

"In pre-season games, I think the manager might look and think he needs to strengthen in one or two areas. That’s when another few signings might happen.

"But I think the players who got you into the Premiership deserve the opportunity to see if they can cope."