Warbs will go right to top of English game
Andre Gray owes Mark Warburton everything after plucking him from the bottom end of English football.
And the £9million Burnley striker has warned Rangers fans that his old gaffer is destined for a job at the top.
Gray was snared by Warburton for just £500,000 in 2014 when he moved from then- Conference side Luton Town to Brentford. He rattled goals in at Championship level before his manager was tempted to Ibrox.
After Warburton’s departure, Gray was snapped up by Clarets boss Sean Dyche for a club record fee last summer. The 25-year-old – who hit a hat-trick against Warburton’s Gers in a friendly last weekend – said: “I owe Mark everything. I’m in debt to him, massively.
“Along with Davie Weir and Frank McParland, they took me to Brentford and gave me my chance at that level. That’s why I am where I am today.
“Knowing them as I do, I’m sure they’ll go all the way with Rangers. I know Celtic are always going to be up at the top in the Scottish league – but Rangers will now be up there as well.
“At some point I can see Mark going back to England to a top Premier League club, definitely. Brentford was his first job and look how well he did there.
“He got us promoted from League One with a young side then got to the Championship play- offs on a very small budget.
“He’s gone to Scotland, won the league and got to a few cup finals. I don’t see why he can’t make it to a big English club.
“He’s still learning the game and is only going to get better as a manager.
“It was strange coming up against him last week. I haven’t seen him since he left Brentford for Scotland.
“But I’ve always had a great relationship with him and Davie.
“They worked with me every day at Brentford. The step up from Luton was massive in terms of quality, fitness, everything. But they showed so much belief in me.
“Even when I went nine games without scoring, they kept playing me. A lot of managers probably wouldn’t have done that.
“I thought myself that I shouldn’t be playing but they backed me and it’s why I’m here now.”
Gray believes more English players will be keen to join Rangers due to Warburton’s draw. The club have already tied up the likes of James Tavernier, Martyn Waghorn, Joey Barton, Jordan Rossiter and Joe Dodoo from down south.
And Gray said: “They want to develop players and you can see the amount of boys he and Davie have improved in recent years.
“It ’ s not hard for English players to come to Scotland now. They know when they go to Rangers they’re going to get better.
“So if you want to improve at a young age, there’s no better place to go, especially with the size of Rangers.”
Gray also had the pleasure of training and playing alongside Barton at Turf Moor last season.
He added: “Joey will be respected in the Rangers dressing room.
“He has a harsh tongue but it’s all about being cruel to be kind. It’s what you need, especially when things aren’t going well.
“The younger boys probably won’t like being told off but sometimes you need a kick up the backside. And Joey’s the person to do that. But he’s been there and done it, so you respect him.
“The Old Firm game against Celtic is built for Joey. There’s not another player around who will be better suited to it. He thrives on occasions like that.”