THERE wasn't enough magic in the hat that Rangers fans metaphorically placed on Mark Warburton's head to bring title glory back to Ibrox.

But former Light Blues captain and assistant manager David Weir reckons Steven Gerrard does need a magic wand to achieve the same aim.

It was Warburton and Weir that guided Rangers to the Championship crown before supporters stepped up their 'Going for 55' ambitions.

Warburton later admitted that his 'heart sank' when the saw the famous card display at Ibrox as he felt expectation levels had been raised too high too soon for Rangers.

Three years on, the Light Blues are still striving for that sought-after Premiership success. For Weir, the challenge is just as significant as Gerrard looks to overhaul Celtic and transform Rangers' fortunes after several unsuccessful years.

“It wasn’t ideal for us at the time but that’s the landscape and it maybe accelerated it a bit too much but that’s the way it is,” Weir said. “You can try and deny it, but the pressure is increased with Celtic going for nine-in-a-row and it was the same when the shoe was on the other foot.

“The fans want to get one over on each other and there’s no better time to do it than when one is going for nine or 10. It’s getting closer and Rangers have to do something about it. Fans don’t care about the budgets.

“I obviously refer to my time and we were bringing in players on free transfers and some who were struggling to get in their teams.

“You’re bringing them up and you’re expected to compete as Rangers in the top flight but people don’t care about the back story - they just care about the result on the Saturday, what they’re reading on Sunday and the where they are in the league table.

“That’s the reality - it’s about winning. We all know that, it’s just that sometimes it’s not easy to do it. It’s frustrating but nobody cares.

“You’ve got to bridge that gap somehow and it’s happened in the past. Teams with lesser budgets and lesser quality have done it but you need a bit of luck and backing.

“Steven Gerrard was right to say he doesn’t have a magic wand... but you also need a magic wand!

“That’s the reality, you need to be lucky and if you’re not getting backed then it’s really difficult.”

Boss Gerrard overhauled the squad that he inherited at Ibrox last summer and made real progress as Rangers won two Old Firm fixtures and finished second for the first time since returning to the top flight.

Celtic were able to flex their financial muscles 12 months ago as striker Odsonne Eduoard was brought in from PSG in a £9million deal and Neil Lennon will have resources at his disposal in the coming weeks as the champions look to build from a position of strength once again.

“It will be hard for Rangers to catch them but they generated that money,” Weir said. “They’ve brought players in, developed team then sold them. They’ve also qualified for Champions League football.

"So they’ve generated the money that allows them to do that. That is the level. Even Edouard is coming from a big club where he’s not been a first choice player.

"He’s still had a bit of work to do. But he’s improving and there’s value in him. It was a gamble bit a calculated gamble. You are buying quality but you are buying young. He’s done well and there will be a market for him as well. They might well make a profit on him now. He might have cost a lot but it looks like a good, sensible business decision.

“For me that’s where Rangers are. They’ve got to make good decisions and bring in good players to bridge that gap. That’s where your owners have got to help you.”

Rangers have completed four deals so far this summer as Jordan Jones, Jake Hastie and Greg Stewart have arrived and Steven Davis has extended his second stint at Ibrox.

Gerrard is keen to bring George Edmundson and Joe Aribo in from Oldham and Charlton respectively as Rangers search for the right players at the right price south of the border.

Weir said: “It is a massive step, there is no doubt about that. People underestimate Scottish football and look at some of the games and say maybe the quality isn’t there.

“But the intensity, the physicality of the game up here is really difficult and a lot of players have come here and really struggled. I have watched a lot of English football at League One, Championship, Premier League and League Two and Scottish football rates, I don’t care what anyone says, in terms of being a difficult league.

“It might not be as much quality, but it is difficult to play in and playing for Rangers, or Celtic, gives you a challenge every week. Everybody wants to beat you, everybody is up for it and it is a cup final every week. The dynamic of that is difficult to factor in as well. It is never easy coming up here, you never get an easy game and there are challenges every week.”

*David Weir was speaking at the McDonald’s & SFA Fun Football Festival at Falkirk Football Community Foundation. These festivals are taking place across the UK this summer, giving thousands of children the chance to enjoy the game. Find your nearest festival at www.mcdonalds.co.uk/funfootball