Lee Wallace: Rangers have to aspire to reach the levels of the Ibrox squad I joined in 2011

Now, the Rangers captain can see potential title flag raisers, a handful of players who have been over the course and distance and a group who aspire for silverware.

When Wallace moved to Rangers, he joined a squad that contained the likes of Allan McGregor, David Weir, Steven Davis and Nikica Jelavic but he would never get the chance to realise his potential in a star-studded Gers line-up.

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Much has changed at Ibrox and further afield since Rangers last played a top flight game, but Wallace remains in Light Blue.

And the 28-year-old hopes to finally make his mark on the Premiership with a new group of Gers stars that have set their sights on the silverware.

“You just look at the type of money we could have got for these players if we hadn’t gone into administration,” Wallace said.

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“There was a lot of money involved with the calibre of player we had back then – top players, top internationals that were the SPL champions at the time.

“There were some big characters, strong characters that have since gone on to do bigger and better things in the English Premier League and the Championship.

“It is completely different what is going on here. We are a team and a group of players that have to get ourselves together and move forward.

“The lads coming in are having to get used to a new way of working and there is no reason why we can’t aspire to go on and do the things that those players did in their careers.

“We have got young lads that are capable of going on to the highest level and, as a team, we want to aspire to get back to, for instance, my debut in the Champions League.

“As a group of players, staff and as a club there is no reason why we can’t look at the team that I came into and to aspire to get where they were and become champions. That is certainly our target.”

Few would have imagined the journey that Wallace would embark on when he put pen-to-paper and finalised a move from Hearts to join the then SPL champions in 2011.

The prospect of him leading Rangers in the top flight was, at that time, even outwith the left-back’s own thinking.

Now, though, he is the man who will wear the armband as Warburton’s side set their sights on Premiership glory next term.

He said: “For me back then it was just a sense of realism. But slowly but surely coming through the leagues I was gaining that responsibility, feeling that responsibility.

“I felt the seniority. When I was named captain last year I felt nervous. But I had to relish it on and go and take it on.

“I can’t speak about myself as a captain, it’s for others to say. It has to be the players in the dressing room.

“But I’ve enjoyed it, I’ve enjoyed the help I’ve got. The players have made it easy.

“Going into the top flight as Rangers captain, I can assure you there will never be a moment when I’ll take it for granted.

“Referring back to when I listen to the new guys speak, and they come in and talk about the standards and our history, I think that’s a good thing to have in the back of our minds. It makes sure none of us can ever take it for granted.

“When you come through the doors at Murray Park, when you step out at Ibrox and you wear that Rangers badge on your shirt every matchday, all those things together, of course it’s going to be great for me to be captain and an honour.

“What would be even better would be if we were to go and be successful as a team.”

After clinching the Championship title with several games to go last season, Warburton has had plenty of time to plan his assault on the top flight this term.

He has made seven signings so far as the experience of Joey Barton, Clint Hill, Niko Kranjcar and Matt Gilks and potential of Matt Crooks, Josh Windass and Jordan Rossiter have added strength and depth to the Ibrox squad.

And Wallace is pleased with the improvements that have been made as the countdown continues to the big kick-off next month.

He said: “It’s impressive. It’s a really good blend – a balance that we probably needed to help take us to the next level.

“There’s youth and experience in there now. When you think of experience you tend to think of age naturally of course.

“But what these that are experienced have got is the experience of top level leagues and cultures. They have worked with different managers and world class players.

“That all comes in here and acts as a great learning process for myself and for all the younger lads who are already at the club.

“As I say, it’s a good blend and balance. We’re excited to get going with them to see how they step into a big club, one with the demands of Rangers.

“You hear them all speaking at their individual press conferences and it looks like they know what they are coming into which is great. You never really need to sell Rangers Football Club.

“The manager has obviously done his work on them. He’s shown them about the place and they quickly got a feel for what it means to represent Rangers and the demands and responsibilities they’ll have at this football club.

“We’ll work hard and move forward together and make sure we are ready so come that first game we’re the best we can be as a group.”