By Richard Fillingham

 

When Mark Warburton & David Weir signed for Rangers on 15 June 2015, it was the start of the duo changing the way the club was run. They decided that there was no big budget to buy players that were too expensive and to pay the big wages that went along with that signing policy; by taking an entirely different approach to buying new, young and hungry players, who had been at several clubs on loan who were all calculated risks, because they could all play, they just needed regular first team games to get themselves fully match fit, before they could show us what they could do once they got their confidence back:

Danny Wilson was the first player to be signed by MW & DW on a free transfer from Hearts
James Tavernier, ex Newcastle & Wigan player
Andy Halliday, ex Livingston, Middlesbrough, Walsall, Blackpool and Bradford City.
Rob Kiernan,  ex Watford, and on loan at Kilmarnock, Yeovil Town, Bradford City & Wycombe
Wes Foderingham, ex Swindon goalkeeper
Martyn Waghorn, ex Sunderland, Leicester, Charlton, Hull City, Millwall & Wigan
Jason Holt, ex Hearts, Raith Rovers and Sheffield United
Michael O’Halloran, ex Bolton, Sheffield United, Carlisle, Tranmere Rovers & St Johnstone 
Harry Forrester, ex Watford, Aston Villa & Doncaster Rovers
Jordan Thomson, Ex Man U, youth player signed after a successful trial period,
Matthew Knox, ex Livingston,16 year star striker, looks like he will be the next young signing
Matt Crooks, ex Accrington Stanley, joining Rangers in June 2016 on a free transfer
Josh Windass, ex Accrington Stanley, joining Rangers in June 2016 on a free transfer  
Dominic Ball, on loan from Tottenham Hotspur
Gedion Zelalem, on loan from Arsenal
Billy King, on loan from Hearts

In fairness, the academy signed ex-Celtic youth Liam Burt in 2014, and everybody at the Club says he is a promising 17 year old, future star, and is contracted to May 2018.

Cammy Bell was already on a contract, as was Captain Lee Wallace, plus Nicky Law, Nicky Clark, David Templeton, Barry McKay, Kenny Miller, Dean Shiels, Robby MCrorie,

Our list of loaned out players to gain first team experience this year follows:

Andy Murdoch on loan at Queen of the South
Fraser Aird on loan at Vancouver Whitecaps
Robbie Crawford on loan at Alloa
Luca Gasparotto on loan at Morton
Liam Kelly on loan at East Fife
Darren Ramsay on loan at Arbroath
Ryan Hardie on loan at Raith Rovers
Jordan Thompson on loan at Airdrieonians
Tom Walsh on loan at Dumbarton 
Ross McCrorie on loan at Ayr United

We also have these fine under-20’s players, all signed until summer 2018

Jason Krones, Kyle Bradley, Kieran Wright, Aidan Wilson, Jamie Barjonas & Grant Nelson.

There will be other bargain players worth signing and I have faith in our management team & our new scouting system to find some real gems amongst them.