RAY WILKINS has urged Rangers fans to keep calm and let boss Mark Warburton carry on with the Ibrox rebuilding job this season.

The Light Blues are 19 points adrift of Old Firm rivals Celtic in the Premiership standings after a lacklustre start to the campaign and three derby defeats in recent months.

It is the race to finish second that Warburton’s side must now win this term and former Gers hero Wilkins knows there are many more steps to be taken on the road to recovery.

He told SportTimes: “Mark is doing a very good job and long may that continue. It will take a few years yet until they are back to the level of Celtic but they are going in the right direction, which is great to see.

“It has been a long process for the club. Ally did the job he had to do initially and Mark has now taken it on and got the club back to the Premiership.

“The expectation obviously comes from years gone by. In our period, we had huge pressure on us but we had a squad of players that could deal with that situation. We were all international players and thankfully the club was successful at that time.

“I am sure Rangers will get back to their former glories and the supporters will have their own part to play in that.

“Maybe they need to cut down the expectation just a touch and give the lads a chance and I am sure they will continue to push on in the right direction.

“It will take time. I have been watching the games and seeing the progress over the last couple of years.

“I am an outsider now but I will always be a bluenose. Looking at it, you can see that it will take a long time. People need to be patient.”

It has been a mixed campaign so far for Rangers as they have struggled at times on their return to the top flight of Scottish football.

Celtic delivered another blow with victory at Ibrox on Hogmanay but Wilkins is confident Warburton’s side are on the right track this term.

He said: “You saw when Kenny (Miller) scored against Celtic that the whole place just erupted and it was phenomenal to watch. I was watching it on television and it brought back some very happy memories for me.

“Obviously it didn’t turn out well on the day but Rangers will keep improving and they will get there. It will take time but they will get back to the top once again.

“If Mark was to turn Celtic over this season the supporters would be chuffed but you need that constant progress and the board need to give him as much assistance as they possibly can.”