MARK WARBURTON admits the days of top class international players coming to Rangers are gone for the foreseeable future.

The Ibrox boss held talks with chairman Dave King and his board this week before he addressed shareholders at the Light Blues AGM on Friday morning.

Rangers are third in the Premiership standings and 11 points off the pace being set by Old Firm rivals Celtic this term.

Warburton significantly bolstered his Gers squad in the summer and will look to go back into the transfer market once again in January.

But the Englishman insists supporters will have to be understanding as progress is made on both sides of the white line in the months and years to come.

Warburton said: “The rebuilding work required on the pitch is no different from that taking place off it, both absolutely demand time and patience. We must rebuild on strong foundations and these cannot be laid down too quickly.

“The history and tradition to which I refer has seen you our supporters, reared on a consistent diet of European victories and domestic triumphs.

“Such a rich history quite understandably leads to a huge weight of expectation, after all this is a club synonymous with success.

“However, the market has changed beyond all recognition and the financial disparity in football terms between North and South has never been greater.

“The days of top class Internationals, players at the very height of their careers, coming to Glasgow are not going to return any time soon.

“Therefore this weight of expectation falls on less experienced shoulders. The pride and privilege that comes with pulling on the ‘blue jersey’ carries with it a heavy responsibility and this too must be borne by younger players.

“Younger players especially, need time to come to terms with the significant demands that come with signing for Rangers.

“Recruitment wise, the 1st team squad has had a complete revamp over the last 18 months, with 20 new players joining the long serving Lee Wallace, Kenny Miller and Barrie McKay.

“The priceless commodity that such a new young squad needs is time, but time is the one commodity that high expectation does not often allow.”