MARK WARBURTON is pleased his Ibrox stars have followed his lead by committing their long-term futures to Rangers.

The Light Blues boss penned an extension to his contract earlier this month and he has seen Wes Foderingham, James Tavernier and Rob Kiernan agree fresh terms in recent days.

A number of the Gers’ title-winning squad had already been rewarded with a new deal and striker Martyn Waghorn looks poised to also sign on the dotted line.

And Warburton reckons that commitment to the cause will stand his side in good stead for the future as preparations continue for Rangers’ Premiership return this term.

He said: “Getting contracts signed is important, but what’s more important is the message it sends out.

“It tells supporters and players we are being proactive and pushing ahead.

“You could say players have two years to run or 18 months to run, but we’re being proactive as we did last year with Jason, Kenny and Andy Halliday, moving with those guys.

“It shows the club to have that proactive stance, not reactive.

“The message is positive and, if we can keep on doing that, the players have to trust us.

“Trust us that if they work hard and do well, we will reward them.

“Uncertainty comes from reading papers. One player said ‘well you haven’t signed your contract yet’. I’m on vacation.

“I got a phone call, why have you not signed? Gaffer, why haven’t you signed? I’m with the wife in Florida, that’s why.

“They talk about what they are going to do, recruitment and they read papers and agents.

“It plants seeds of doubt and it’s a tough profession. Journalism is hard, banking is hard, any profession is.

“Players can read negative comments and it plants seeds of doubt. If you can remove those, you are in a good place.

“David and myself knew it would be an obvious question. Players are respectful, but they ask questions.

“It used to be: Drink that. They’d say ‘What is it?’ You’d say ‘Just drink it.’ Now they won’t drink.

“What’s in the protein shake? Why am I drinking it? It’s good, they are enquiring.

“But likewise, they’ll ask the management 'Are you committed here?'

“Why would we commit if you are not? That was important to get out of the way.”

It has been a productive summer so far for Warburton as he has added nine players to his squad to bolster his Ibrox ranks for a crack at the top flight title.

He remains in the market for another striker and more defensive cover having already signed Lee Hodson and Clint Hill.

But he won’t push the panic button to bring another centre-back to Ibrox as he considers his options over his final deals in the coming weeks.

He said: “We are trying. It’s an ever decreasing talent pool.

“You look at the prices down south and there are players moving for six, seven, eight or £10million who were one, two, three, four just a few weeks ago.

“So the market demand is such that the shelves are getting thin after the Euros.

“I think people are now starting to panic and Rangers can’t be drawn into that. We can’t be drawn into a panic buy.

“If it adds value we will make a move but we won’t be drawn into an auction because we will lose that.

“Matt Crooks, don’t forget is a defensive midfielder/centre half and at 6ft 4ins he adds physicality. Clint Hill was very good on Tuesday and we have Rob Kiernan and Danny Wilson.

“But if the right person becomes available we will move. But we can’t get drawn into an auction and we can’t compete with English clubs.

“If you look at the numbers being quoted down south players were going for half a month ago and now they will go for the new price and that can’t be right.”