MARK Warburton has made precisely 15 new signings and spent over a £1million on players since being appointed Rangers manager last summer.

He has splashed out on the likes of Rob Kiernan, Michael O'Halloran, James Tavernier and Martyn Waghorn as he bids to bring success to the Ibrox club.

But former Gers striker Gary McSwegan reckons the most important signature he has secured in the time he has been in Glasgow has cost him nothing – Kenny Miller.

Many fans gave the news that Miller had accepted a one year contract extension that would keep him at Rangers until 2017 earlier on this season a decidedly cool reaction.

The forward is, despite the spell he spent at Celtic, highly regarded by followers of the Light Blues due to his total commitment to their cause, his eye for goal and his formidable work rate.

But he was 35 when he accepted his new deal and will be 37 in its final season and some supporters, despite the fact that the player will also be involved in coaching the under-20 side at Auchenhowie, questioned the wisdom of the move.

The leading objective for Mark Warburton’s side this term is to win promotion to the Premiership.

Can the forward be relied upon to perform against Aberdeen, Celtic and Hearts in the top flight if they do go up?

However, McSwegan, who now runs the Maxima Sports Management players agency, wasn’t among the doubters - and has been proved correct since then.

Miller has been a key player for Rangers since committing his future to them in November and has netted eight goals.

His stunning long-range strike against Queen of the South at Palmerston Park on Sunday secured a vital win which restored his side’s eight point cushion at the top of the second tier league table.

McSwegan believes the presence of the 68 times-capped Scotland internationalist is helping his old club in their matches and also have a positive impact on the entire squad, the youngsters especially.

“Kenny has been about for a long time now,” he said. “He is one of the best players Scotland have produced in the last 20 years or so. I think he’s got a lot to offer Rangers, not just on the pitch, but in the dressing room as well.

“I personally think sometimes players like that can get discarded by clubs too quickly.

"He can be a massive influence on the squad. As a young lad at Rangers, I was in a squad full of experienced players, full internationals, and I learned from them. They all had good habits that I picked up.

“If you are a kid and you are involved in the under-20 leagues you are playing against boys their own age, against similar players.

"But if you are training and playing alongside men it opens your eyes. You learn how to handle yourself on and off the park.

“I was in a squad with guys like Mark Hateley, Ally McCoist, Ray Wilkins, Terry Butcher and Richard Gough.

"I left school at 15 and the next day I was training with guys who had been involved in World Cups. I was soon learning lots of invaluable lessons. You are like a sponge.

“I am sure that boys like Barrie McKay, Ryan Hardie and others will be benefitting enormously from working and playing alongside Kenny and will continue to do so this season and next.”

Nicky Clark was chosen to start up front in the absence of Martyn Waghorn, who injured himself in the Scottish Cup win over Kilmarnock last week and will be out of action for up to six weeks, against Queen of the South down in Dumfries at the weekend.

The 24-year-old, who is out of contract at the end of the 2015/16 campaign, failed to take advantage of the opportunity and was replaced by Miller after just an hour of the match with the scores level at 0-0.

The chances for the former Queens player, who netted an injury-time winner against Kilmarnock last week, to prove that he is deserving of a new deal are diminishing rapidly.

McSwegan, though, feels that Clark is capable of doing so and believes it will take time for Rangers to adapt to the loss of Waghorn.

He said: “Nicky Clark is a proven goalscorer who will get goals if he gets chances. He certainly produced a very good finish against Kilmarnock. I always found if I was on the bench I gave a bit extra and tried to make an impact to prove people wrong.

“Martyn Waghorn is the type of striker who can drift into areas and score. He is good at playing on the right and coming in onto his left foot. He also creates chances for others to score.

"Nicky Clark is more of a penalty box striker. But Mark Warburton will realise what Nicky Clark can do.”

McSwegan feels the capture of O’Halloran from St Johnstone for £500,000 last month was a good piece of business by Rangers - and revealed he had been asked to keep tabs on the winger for an English Championship club before he signed.

“I have watched Michael O’Halloran a lot this season and last season,” he said. “I did a couple of reports on the boy for Preston North End. He is an excellent addition to the squad. He is one of the quickest players I have seen in Scotland.

“He is also a good age to get a player at. He will do a job for the team this year, but I think he is more a player for next season. It is good for them to have that option.”