IBROX SIGNING POLICY AND SCOUTING RAISES SOME SERIOUS QUESTIONS

STEVEN GERRARD had to bolt a team together from the debris of Pedro Caixinha’s time at Rangers.

The club are also throwing everything at winning an unlikely title against an unsettled Celtic. We get that.

With the transfer window coming to an end, though, questions must be asked over what Rangers are seeking to achieve longer-term in the market and the effectiveness of their scouting.

They spent £7million on Eros Grezda, Borna Barisic, Nikola Katic and Kyle Lafferty in the summer and none is a first-pick. Two of those from Croatia had been with clubs Rangers met in Europe, while Katic has never appeared someone manager Gerrard is ready to hang his hat on.

Glenn Middleton notwithstanding, signing policy under director of football Mark Allen has otherwise centred on loan signings, ex-players and well-known — in some instances, old — faces from England with no resale value.

Rangers are running at a loss and need sizeable transfer income as part of a stronger business model.

That involves finding younger talents to cultivate and sell.

It’s hard. No doubt. But it’s something the current regime have got to deliver on.