WHEN the call came from Stephen Aitken and Dumbarton, Ian Durrant was more than happy to help.

Once again, the Rangers legend is waiting for the phone to ring.

At just 52, Durrant has plenty to offer and, he hopes, many more years in the game. What that involvement will be, he doesn’t know just yet.

He is sure of his ability, though. And his desire to get back into football, to make a difference.

The spell alongside Aitken at Dumbarton gave Durrant a chance he had waited some time for following his departure from Rangers.

Just days after Aitken was sacked, the appointment of Jim Duffy as Sons boss signalled the end of Durrant’s time at The Rock.

It was a stint that he enjoyed and one which has whetted his appetite as he looks for the next opportunity to pull his boots back on.

“It was great and I appreciate Stevie giving me the opportunity and the chance,” Durrant said. “It was unfortunate that we peaked too early in terms of keeping Dumbarton in the league and then getting to the cup final. The next season, we assembled what we thought was a good team with good experience but we lost a lot of players through injury and that made it hard for us.

“We didn’t get off to the best of starts and it was unfortunate for Stevie. He done so well for them, kept them in the league and got to the first cup final in 100 years.

“But football is football and it changes quickly, it is a results driven business. We didn’t get the results and the board made the decision to go and get a new manager in.

“I had the opportunity to work with the youths at Rangers and then I left. You are in a bit of a wilderness so Dumbarton was great, I loved being back out on the training ground with the players. That is the one of the things I know I am good at.

“Stevie was the manager, I was the assistant and we had a great relationship. We worked away the two of us, we bounced off each other.

“It was unfortunate we couldn’t keep getting the results.”

While managers and players from across the country have been heading for training camps over the summer, Durrant has been making the most of his own time in the sunshine.

As the start of the new season approaches, he is keen to get back down to business, though.

Durrant can’t say for certain where or when he will return to the game. When he feels the time and the club is right, he will make his move.

He said: “I am doing bits and bobs, helping out there, helping out there and basically trying to get something. I am available if anybody is looking.

“It is like everything else, it is early just now. I have just come back from holiday. So I will have a look about and see what is happening.

“Whatever comes across and intrigues me and appeals to me, I will have a look at it. Who knows what it could be? Youth, coach, assistant or manager. The sad reality is that you are likely waiting for someone to get the sack and that is unfortunate, but that is football.

“I have been doing a bit of scouting and watching a lot of games. I have been doing a bit of media work and I am doing courses to keep my eye in. It has not been that long since I left Dumbarton, but there comes a time to get your name out there again and get involved. I have taken a wee break, I enjoyed it.

“Football is all I have known. The wife is getting sick of me! And I am sick of playing golf.

“I have always been involved in football and, who knows, it might not happen for me. While there is a chance, I will keep going.

“I am a great believer, and this is no disrespect to the ones that are coming through, but I have always thought that you can’t beat experience.

“If I can help out anyway, I’d be delighted to. People might not think of me now, that is the way it is. But I know what I can do and I would be delighted if there was a job that appeals to me.”

It is now three years since Durrant left Rangers as Mark Warburton reshuffled his coaching staff.

The nine-in-a-row legend hasn’t been back as often as he would have liked but he could become a more familiar face around Ibrox in the coming months.

Durrant will always be welcomed back by the fans that continue to hold him in such high esteem and he will be behind the microphone for a game that will bring back fond memories from his playing days.

Durrant said: “I have not been seen about that much but there are familiar faces and they always make you welcome. I have got great relationships with some people at Rangers and that has always continued.

“It is unfortunate that I haven’t really been about the place as much as would have I liked at times.

There was always an open invitation, but I just never had the opportunity to take it up as much as I would have liked to.

“I am going to be doing the co-commentary on the Marseille game with Tom Miller so I will be back in for that.

“I will be back in for that and, depending on if I am in a job or not, hopefully I will get to a few games.”

*Rangers legend Ian Durrant is pictured promoting the Rangers Youth Development Company.

Since 2002, RYDC profits have been directed to Rangers Football Club’s youth programme - with almost £8 million provided so far.

And in January, Academy Head Craig Mulholland and youth graduate Glenn Middleton accepted an RYDC donation of £400,000.

For full details on RYDC’s growing portfolio of products – the re-launched Rangers Pools, Rangers Lotto, Rising Stars, Scratchcards, Stadium Bricks and the Youth Members Club - visit www.rydc.co.uk or call 0141 427 4914.