IBROX director John Gilligan has targeted a top flight challenge for Rangers within the next ‘two to three years’ as he backed the Light Blue rebuilding job being undertaken by boss Mark Warburton.

Rangers are currently five points clear at the top of the Championship and are on course to clinch their Premiership return at the second time of asking this term.

After a tumultuous few years, there is a renewed belief amongst supporters as they look forward what they hope will be a brighter future with Warburton and a new board of directors in place at Ibrox.

And Gilligan is keen for the Gers to continue their progress on the park in the coming campaigns as they look to get back to the top of our game once again.

He said: “The first thing you have to be careful of here is arrogance, over-confidence and disrespect. We have got to win this league before we worry about next year, with all due respect.

“But, where do we want to be? Where do we expect to be? I would say, personally, that within the next two to three years we would be expecting to be challenging at the top level of Scottish football.

“The danger of saying these things is that they become a strapline and a quote, but that is where aim to be, that is where we want to be.”

The appointment of Warburton in the summer has transformed Rangers’ outlook from a football perspective as he has overhauled the Ibrox squad and introduced a new style of play this season.

The former Brentford boss is assisted by Light Blue legend David Weir and the pair have made an impressive start to life in the dugout as they have taken their side to the top of the table and into the Petrofac Training Cup final and fifth round of the Scottish Cup.

And Gilligan is delighted to see the decision to entrust Warburton with the top Gers job paying off as the 53-year-old looks to end his first season at Ibrox on a high note.

He told the ‘Talking Football’ show on RockSport Radio: “Mark’s qualities – his work ethic, his demeanour, his professionalism, the way he communicates, his will to win, he is ambitious – you can run out of adjectives to be honest.

“He is a professional presenter, he knows how to present himself and that is important, he is a good communicator. If you are going to be a football manager, communication is probably number one.

“He loves the game. He took a year out, he gave up his business and travelled Europe learning all the different things.

“He is an enthusiast for the game, a bit like Fergie or Jock Wallace. He is an enthusiast for the game and that was an attraction.”