FRANK McPARLAND will already be working his little black book of contacts as he seeks to help Rangers take the next step in the rebuilding process, but there is a worldwide network of former Ibrox players out there that he really ought to tap into.

He cannot be everywhere. He needs a bit of help in sourcing new talent and, as I have stated previously in this column, there are so many people out there prepared and willing to help him in his new role as the club’s Head of Recruitment.

Michael Mols, for example, has been vocal in the past about assembling a group of ex-players to form a comprehensive scouting network. There is, without doubt, a huge amount of goodwill out there.

McParland, of course, has worked at a very high level. He will have his own tried and trusted people in Britain and beyond.

What’s more, he has people at his disposal who can really play a big role in selling the club to prospective transfer targets.

Let’s say there is an interesting prospect in Holland, for example. Mols can give them the full lowdown on what the club is, what it represents, what it is like to play there. It is a compelling sales pitch.

Big clubs nowadays have so many foreign youngsters that you need help from all around. Rangers have former players in Germany, America and Denmark and the feeling is that they are all willing to pitch in and help if required.

The fans have waited a long time for this appointment and I am sure it came as a real shock to Warburton when he joined that there was no real scouting system as such.

This is the first step towards repairing some of the damage done to that area of the club and approaching what would appear to be something of a blank canvas.

I don’t think I would go as far as to say that it is Warburton’s most important signing because Rangers would not be in this situation if he had failed to bring in players capable of establishing a commanding lead in the Championship, but it is hugely important.

McParland will almost certainly be an influential role in terms of creating the scouting system as well because he has good experience of that from his time at Liverpool.

He was at the centre of the recruitment process for a number of the biggest names at first-team level, but he helped bring Raheem Sterling right through the academy as well.

He clearly has an eye for a young player and that is going to be crucial for Rangers.

The days of paying big money for new talent has gone and the fact is that all big clubs, even those that do have a lot to spend, are making the acquisition of good, young players a big part of their strategy.

What increases confidence in the appointment is that Warburton knows his personality and his working methods extremely well.

He worked with him for a long period of time at Brentford and it is clear that they had an excellent relationship to the extent that McParland shared a flat with Davie Weir for a while.

McParland stated in an exclusive interview with the Evening Times just a matter of months ago that he believed Warburton, with the right backing of the board, would reach his intended target of getting Rangers back into the Champions League within three years.

He is now a major part of that project and getting good, younger players into the club, with the potential to really improve, is something that will have to start now.

Of course, he mentioned that there has to be solid support from the powers-that-be and there will definitely have to be investment if Rangers are going to get anywhere close to Uefa’s top competition.

Money is going to have to be spent on quality, but I don’t think it is impossible.

Glasgow Times:

McParland’s appointment was crucial before the opening of the January transfer window.

If Rangers do go up to the Premiership next season, they are going to need better players and that has to be looked at now.

If players are signed in January or secured on pre-contracts, they will not be coming to win this league. From that point onwards, it is about what comes beyond.

No disrespect to the players who are doing such a good job right now, but I would say that three or four of a higher quality will be needed to help the team make the transition to the higher division.

That won’t be easy. Everyone is looking for players at the right price.

It is a competitive market and that is where good contacts often come into play.

Ibrox learning curve proves the cap fits for kids like Nathan

Glasgow Times:

NATHAN ODUWA was given his first involvement in an England youth squad for 18 months when being called up for the Under-20s’ campaign in the Mercedes-Benz Elite Cup.

It should be taken as proof to other young players in England and elsewhere that Rangers can be a fantastic place to play.

Being here seems to be doing Oduwa the world of good.

He is playing in front of full houses, has produced some decent performances and has shown enough skill to suggest he will be a good player.

Of course, you can train with the first-team at Spurs, but you are playing in front of five men and a dog at the weekend.

He is getting whacked up here and learning to deal with it because all good players get whacked.

Celtic have made a habit of bringing in players on loan in recent times with Jason Denayer of Manchester City proving a real success last season. If it is good enough for Celtic, who can afford to pay for players, it is good enough for Rangers.

Rangers had to make sure they got out of the Championship this season and Mark Warburton used his influence to bring in some young blood from the Premiership. Oduwa and Gedion Zelalem have done well with Dominic Ball being the only one to really have his chances limited.

I would expect Rangers to bring in more players on permanent contracts as time progresses, but there may still be one or two loan deals to be done if the players are of the right calibre and I would be in favour of that.

Eustace is the minder Warburton kids need

JOHN EUSTACE is likely to be the exception to the rule when it comes to Rangers’ ongoing transfer strategy in that he is 35 years of age and has no residual value.

Even so, he is there to perform a specific role that is required. Mark Warburton needs a solid, holding midfielder and the recent 3-1 defeat to St Johnstone in the third round of the League Cup proved it.

Too many balls over the top are causing trouble. If there is a slight weakness in this Rangers team, it is through the middle and placing a man in that holding position would help prevent teams from running at them.

It is true that Rangers have only lost five goals in the league so far, but most of them could have been stopped.

The St Johnstone match proved you will be punished against teams of a higher level in the Premiership if you are not switched on.

Rangers really do need a man who is not going to go over the halfway line, really, and just provide support and protection for the back four.

You don’t need someone at 21 or 22 to play that position. It is better suited to an experienced head with the capability to read the game well. There should not be a lot of running involved.

Eustace is costing nothing and Rangers might well be looking at giving him some kind of pay-as-you-play deal.

He has been recovering from knee trouble and needs to show he has the necessary sharpness.

From what we hear, Eustace has shown himself to be popular in the dressing room while training to get fit and helping out with pre-match drills and preparation and I am sure he will prove to be a leader on the park.

Your question for Derek Johnstone

HARRY PATERSON from Dennistoun asked DJ: “Were Ladbrokes wrong to seek publicity from stating they had closed the book on Aberdeen boss Derek McInnes being sacked?”

DJ says: “If you are a top bookmaking firm, you are trying to get money off people any way you can and I can see that, but you have to be responsible.

“There was no chance of Derek leaving Aberdeen and becoming Scotland manager and he has made his views on the matter clear.

“People like a bet on the next boss to be sacked and that is now part of the game, but there was no truth in the rumours surrounding McInnes and I can understand why he was frustrated.”

If you have a question for Derek, just email him at dj@eveningtimes.co.uk and we’ll print the answer alongside the question.