Mark Hateley insists this is the most important transfer window in Rangers' history

It has been a difficult season for Rangers who are currently a whopping 36 points adrift of Celtic and 9 off second-placed Aberdeen.

Hateley, though, believes that Pedro Caixinha should be given time to get it right – and he should be backed in the transfer window with at least three quality additions who could make the Ibrox side mount a more competitive challenge.

Read more: Andy Little: Rangers boss Pedro Caixinha should build his side around Barrie McKay next season

“This is going to one of the most important transfer windows in Rangers’ history but I still think Pedro will need three of them to really build what he wants to build at Ibrox,” said Hateley.

“He will no doubt utilise the many contacts he has in Europe and beyond. But if you rush in and maybe make some panic buys so often you get things wrong.

“So I think he will also need the January window and summer next year before he has what he wants.

“I think he has had enough time to assess the squad and I’m sure the bulk of the players will be aware of whether they are wanted next season or not.

“Of course, if results don’t go well in the early part of next season then it all kicks off for him. But I would like to think that in the fullness of time he will turn things around for Rangers.”

Caixinha has been in the job for only a matter of months, but Hateley believes he will fully appreciate the challenge that now lies in wait.

And while competing with Celtic still seems unlikely over the course of a season given the magnitude of the chasm that currently exists, Hateley expects that showing significant improvements in performance and greater consistency will the challenge for next season.

Read more: Pedro Caixinha: Victory over Partick Thistle was crucial for Rangers' confidence levels

“I’m sure Pedro has not come into the job blind-folded,” he said. “He knows exactly what he will be allowed to do in the summer and then become more competitive next season – and that’s the key to everything.

“It’s going to be difficult to get closer to Celtic – unless some rich Arab or Russian comes in with major investment – but he has to make Rangers more competitive.

“He seems to be a hard-worker and the players will bear witness to that. And from hard work comes great rewards, I say.

“He has been involved in rebuilding jobs in each of his last three jobs so he knows what it takes and what he needs to do even if the demands at Rangers are a lot higher.

“It’s win, win, win at Rangers and anything less than that is not good.

“The other major difficulty he has is the strength of Celtic because Brendan Rodgers will only try to make them stronger next season as they look to be a better side in Europe.

“So that means it’s going to be difficult for everyone in Scottish football to compete.

“But if you’re the Rangers manager you have to deal with it and you have to do something about it.

“Historically, if you are the Celtic manager or the Rangers manager you have to win trophies. If not you’re out the door, it’s as simple as that.

“I’m sure Pedro is fully aware of these facts.”

Read more: Andy Little: Rangers boss Pedro Caixinha should build his side around Barrie McKay next season

And the nine-in-a-row winner also revealed his own disappointment with the way things unravelled under Mark Warburton this season.

“The biggest problem for Pedro is what he has inherited. Mark Warburton’s recruitment was a failure,” he stated.

“Without naming names, I think we could all see that there were players brought in who simply could not fit in at Rangers. Warburton also only had one plan and as a coach you need have Plan A, B, C and D when you go into a match.

“You have to be proactive and change a game before your opposite number changes things – and all of that was surprisingly poor.

“I thought Mark would have had more all-round knowledge of the game rather than be one-dimensional.

“Good coaches can see things happening and adapt. Look at Brendan Rodgers. He is proactive and makes changes when they are needed.”