MARK WARBURTON reckons his behind the scenes team at Murray Park have been crucial to Rangers’ success this season.

The Light Blues return to Hampden next month looking to add the Scottish Cup to their Championship and Petrofac Training Cup titles.

Warburton has used a select group of players for the majority of the campaign as the Gers have remained largely injury-free this term.

And the Ibrox boss believes that is testament to the work that is put in every day by his newly assembled backroom staff.

He said: "If you think back to the press conferences we spoke about our environment.

“What clubs tend to do is allocate resources solely to the first team, but for me you need to get the environment right to give these boys the best chance and make them the best they can be.

“So the best signings? Yes they are players, but also Craig Flannigan, Neil McIlhargey, Frank McParland.

“You have to get the very best support network around the team. You look at the size of our squad, you look at our performance record. At Brentford, we used the fewest players out of 92 league clubs, next was Bournemouth.

“Bournemouth went up and we were close. Look at the size of our squad and I think it is really relevant. So get the best network looking after them, conditioning.

“Our masseur, David Lavery, has come back to the club and is Scotland's masseur too. He's top, top class. I'm comfortable we have the best support network in Scotland.

“I’m touching every piece of wood but you are right [we haven’t had many injuries].

“I think how they recover, and what their loading is individually is first class. The gym work they do here is intense and specific to them. It’s so important.

“I always go on about environment and people ignore me but it’s so important. You need the right working environment to do your job, whether you are a brickie or a footballer.

“The chefs here have done great too. They revamped the entire menu. People enjoy their work here.

“It’s a day off and Wes has just come into do some extra gym work. Rob, Dom and Holty are here too. That tells you the environment is right.”