Rangers have had a slow transfer summer so far, but supporters have allowed for that due to the takeover by Andrew Cavenagh and the 49ers.
Nevertheless, now that Russell Martin is in place as manager, there is an expectation for things to ramp up, especially as pre-season gets underway on Monday (23 June).
Next month also brings the start of Champions League qualification, a first real opportunity to assess where the Gers will be under Martin’s management.
With that in mind, all eyes are now on Ibrox as preparations appear to be getting underway.
Kris Boyd voices Rangers’ concerns
The new owners at Rangers put the Light Blues in a much stronger position when it comes to the budget available for transfers this summer.
However, there has yet to be any movement to take steps towards kicking off a new era at Ibrox.
It has been reported that Max Aarons is set to be the first addition, in a loan deal that will be announced over the coming days.
Nevertheless, there is plenty more work that needs to be done by Martin to get his side in the right shape to compete next season.
While supporters have been patient until now, Kris Boyd has sent a stern warning to those in Glasgow that there is no time to waste, urging business to get underway.
Writing in The Sun (21 June), he said: “Russell Martin is ‘hopeful’ Rangers will make signings before the Champions League qualifiers kick off.
“If they don’t, my old club will be gambling with their chances of progressing in the tournament beyond July.
“There should be no ‘hopeful’ about it. Rangers need to start signing players.”
Boyd went on to explain that while he expects transfer decisions to be well-researched, he expected the 49ers to have done more work by now.
With a return to competitive football closing in, the 41-year-old highlighted just how much is at stake as he went on to say: “But it’s also obvious that the Champions League is so vital for the club on many levels.
“The finances at stake are well known. Even reaching the play-off round would generate at least £5million in prize money and gate receipts.
“Go beyond that into the league phase and you are talking a £40m windfall — minimum.”
Rangers must get it right
As Boyd points out, you can certainly understand a cautious approach to the market this summer, especially when you consider past failures at Ibrox.
| Played | Won | Drew | Lost |
| 38 | 22 | 9 | 7 |
However, the Champions League provides a massive opportunity for the Gers and if they are not in shape, it could have a serious knock-on effect in their entire season.
There isn’t much of an excuse to be too slow now and supporters will be expecting to see movement in the transfer window in the coming weeks.
The importance of getting off to a strong start cannot be underestimated at Ibrox, with a repeat of the failures against Dynamo Kyiv not an option.
