MATT Crooks and Josh Windass will be ready to help Rangers land silverware in Scotland next season - after being involved in a nail-biting push for promotion with Accrington Stanley.

That was the prediction of Accrington owner Andy Holt today following another nerve-wracking weekend for his tiny Lancashire club.

Crooks and Windass, who signed pre-contract agreements at Ibrox back in January, were unable to help Accrington win promotion from League Two on Saturday.

The Wham Stadium club needed to defeat Stevenage at home in order to go up to the third tier of English football for the first time in their history - and could only draw 0-0.

Bristol Rovers last-gasp win over Dagenham and Redbridge - they scored the winner in a 2-1 victory two minutes into time added on - meant they finished in third place.

Stanley will now have to go through the play-offs - starting with the first leg of the semi-final against AFC Wimbledon this Saturday.

However, Holt believes both players will benefit from the experience and reckons Ladbrokes Championship winners Rangers have done a brilliant bit of business by snapping up the duo for nominal compensation fees.

“Both Josh and Matt have been great for Accrington this season,” he said. “They are both fantastic kids as well as being great players and they have both done their very best.

“There is no doubt they have been very good. They are going to Rangers now and I am really delighted for them. I have no doubt they will both do very well as a result of their experiences here at Accrington.”

Crooks has played mainly as a holding midfielder for John Coleman’s side in the 2015/16 campaign and has been one their key men.

Windass, meanwhile, has pitched in with no fewer than 16 goals from a wide position as Accrington have held off strong challenges from Oxford and Bristol City.

“Matt has got the ability to play in a lot of roles,” said Holt. “In some games he is forceful, in some games he sits deep. It all depends what Coley’s tactics are. He’s a top player, it’s as simple as that.

“Josh is a different kind of player. He can pop up at any time and score you a goal. You can be watching a game thinking: ‘Josh is a bit quiet today!’ Two minutes later he has scored. He is always likely to get you something.

“They have both been instrumental in the high league position that we have secured this season. They have been important players for us in the league and have contributed a great deal to the team.

“They are both good lads off the park as well as good players on it and will fit in well at Rangers when they move there next season.”

Crooks and Windass, who are both just 22, came through the youth ranks together at Huddersfield Town only to be released after the Yorkshire club.

Crooks has had loan spells at English minnows Halifax Town, Radcliffe Borough and Hartlepool United before moving on to Accrington last year.

Meanwhile, Windass, the son of former Aberdeen striker Dean, played for non-league Harrogate Railway Athletic for a season and then joined the Crown Ground club three years ago.

Holt reckons being involved in an intense push for promotion in League Two this season has been invaluable for the development of both players.

He feels they have progressed as players in the last 10 months and will be able to cope with the demands on them to succeed at Rangers next season.

He said: “Huddersfield let them go. They didn’t have contracts with anyone. There is no doubt that Accrington has been good for them. But they have been good for Accrington as well.

“They have both learned their trade as players in the time that they have been here and have got regular games.”

It has been well documented this season that Jamie Vardy, the England striker who has just helped Leicester City win the Premier League, was playing non-league football for Stocksbridge Park Steels six years ago.

Holt stopped short of comparing either Crooks or Windass to Vardy - but he did stress the pair’s success is proof that good players can be discarded prematurely by professional clubs.

He said: “There are not many 18-year-olds can play with big strong men. But between the ages of 18 and 21 they catch them up. Both Josh have developed physically and as players since they have been here.”

Crooks and Windass were branded “disrespectful” by Accrington manager Coleman after expressing their delight about signing for Rangers on social media website Twitter back in January.

But Holt stressed the duo will head off to Glasgow with their best wishes after contributing hugely in the last season.

“There are no hard feelings about them leaving,” he said. “As I say, both players have done well for us and we have benefitted from having them here. We are happy they have an opportunity to further their careers.

“Saturday against Stevenage was one of the biggest days in our history. We had a sell-out crowd of around 4,500 at the game. You couldn’t buy a ticket for the match.

“Both Matt and Josh will be playing in front of larger attendances and at a higher level in the future with Rangers, but I am sure they will have learned a great deal from what they have been through this season.”