ROBERTSON WILL RESIST TIT-FOR-TAT WITH BHOYS

RANGERS managing director Stewart Robertson insists Celtic’s appointment of Brendan Rodgers will not tempt the Ibrox board to deviate from its spending plans ahead of a Premiership return.

The capture of the former Liverpool manager has been viewed as a significant statement of intent by the Parkhead club and its major shareholder Dermot Desmond, as the title holders seek to secure their dominance in pursuit of a sixth title in a row.

But Robertson insists Rangers will not be pushed into a dangerous spending policy by their rivals’ actions.

‘Celtic have appointed a big name, which is great,’ said Robertson. ‘But we’ve got a plan and we’re still on the path with our plan, so that doesn’t change anything here.

‘I saw one comment the other day that it’s a bit more showbiz, and for Scottish football I think that’s a positive. But it won’t change the thinking at Rangers — not in the slightest.’

Although Robertson claims Rangers will spend and that the deal to land Joey Barton represents the first tranche of necessary investment in the squad, the former Motherwell secretary is adamant the club will not be reckless in its outlays.

And although Barton, at 33, represents a player with little resale value, he insists there will be a speculate-to-accumulate policy around Mark Warburton’s squad investment this summer.

He continued: ‘I’d say there is investment needed to be made in the club. You have to remember where the club was, so it’s not making a loss for the sake of making a loss and being flippant and frivolous with the money.

‘But the money is going to be invested. The players we sign are going to be players who have a value on the balance sheet. In due course, some of them will be sold and will create a value.

‘Transfer fees are an income stream this club has not had for a number of years. We have to start generating those to make sure we can compete at the top of the league.’

Barton’s decision to reject a contract offer from newlypromoted English Premier League outfit Burnley in order to sign for Rangers has been viewed as a significant coup and Robertson insists Warburton has scope to bring in more players to beef up a squad which was light of numbers last term.

‘Joey Barton is a fantastic player, a big personality and big character,’ added Robertson. ‘If we want to try to win the league next season we’ve got to bring in a decent standard of player.’