‘Rangers men’ at club is key, says Malcolm

BOB Maclolm, former Rangers player, has supported Mark Warburton’s pursuit of Scott Allan and the capture of Andy Halliday – because he believes having Rangers men will be crucial to his Ladbrokes Championship hopes.

Malcolm never hid his colours during nine years at Ibrox but watched others with so-called major reputations wilt under the pressure of playing for the Light Blues.

Halliday is a lifelong supporter and his close friend Allan is too, both having been reared on the 9-in-a row squad of the 1990s.

Malcolm knows Halliday well having worked with the midfielder in the second half of the 2013/14 season at Blackpool, when Barry Ferguson took over the team after Paul Ince and Alex Rae were let go.

“I think it’s really important to have Rangers men about the club and I’m also pleased that Mark Warburton and Davie Weir are going down the route of buying British players,” Malcolm said.

“Davie, of course, knows the club so well even if he has been away for a few years and that will be very important for Mark Warburton.

“The big question is whether the lads they have signed from England are able to handle playing for Rangers. They might be comfortable in front of 8,000 or 9,000 but it will be a different ball game playing before 40,000-plus every other week.

“I just hope they don’t get caught like rabbits in the headlights because it has happened a few times in the past.

“Players with big reputations have come to Rangers and have basically flopped. World Cup winners have been at the club and struggled to handle it so these guys need to be good characters.

“I’m sure Mark Warburton and Davie Weir will do their best to ensure that they get the right types – and I think they have already said that.”

Malcolm, assistant to Ferguson at Clyde, contends that Halliday offers great versatility to Rangers who face Hibs at Easter Road today in what is sure to be a feisty affair in view of the on-going speculation over Allan’s future.

Malcolm said: “Andy’s a good lad and the great thing about him is that he can play different positions. When he came to Blackpool he wanted to play centre midfield but he ended up doing a great job for us at left back for a spell.”