Buying British is the only route to quick success for Ibrox boss

MARK WARBURTON has explained why his strategy of ‘Buy British’ is the only way he can fast-track Rangers to the success the club craves.

This summer’s recruitment policy has continued the theme from last year of ignoring the European market and concentrating almost exclusively on players from the UK and Ireland.

Croatian playmaker Niko Kranjcar is the only member of Warburton’s title-chasing squad outwith that criteria, yet he was a star for six years in the English Premier League.

The Ibrox boss insists shopping close to home and signing players with British club football experience is a must if Rangers are to satisfy the expectation to win top-level trophies again — quickly.

He simply hasn’t the time to scour the planet for untapped foreign talent and establish an expanded scouting network if he is to meet those demands in his second season in charge.

Warburton, who signed nine Brits this close season alone, including Joe Garner yesterday, said: ‘We know what the crowd, quite rightly, and board expect here at Rangers.

‘We don’t have the chance to settle ourselves in. There’s no two years. Sometimes players that we know are the ones we go for.

‘It’s nothing negative towards European players. It’s just about trying to give us the best chance of success as quickly as possible.’