Rangers are expected to instil a long-term plan to close the gap to Celtic following the anticipated takeover of 49ers Enterprises.
That is according to former Man United chief scout and Sir Alex Ferguson number two Mick Brown, who remains very well-connected within the game, as he exclusively told Football Insider that it could take up to five years to match their rivals.
However, the ongoing takeover talks behind the scenes at Ibrox have provided the ideal opportunity to establish a new forward-thinking plan for the future.
Meanwhile, chief executive Patrick Stewart is undertaking an internal review at Rangers led by New York consultants Sportsology Group.
Rangers have been warned that they may need to suffer a few seasons of mediocrity to get the club back on to safe footing before they can start to be ambitious again.
Similar has been seen at 49ers-owned Leeds United, who are currently in their second season in the Championship but have established a long-term plan for success.
49ers Enterprises are now planning to buy Rangers after months of uncertainty behind the scenes at Ibrox in what has come as a potentially significant boost for the club.
Rangers told to make long-term plan to catch Celtic
Brown explained that Rangers must get their house in order before they can have ambitions to challenge Celtic, who have moved “years ahead” of their Old Firm rivals
As things stand, the Hoops are leading the league by 16 points and received a further financial boost from their participation in the Champions League playoff stage.
The former scout, who has a wealth of experience working closely with owners and managers at elite clubs including over a decade at Man United during their most successful period, insists Rangers have to accept the position they’re in for now.
“Rangers have been struggling for financial support,” he told Football Insider.
“So where do they go to get the type of player that will bridge that gap between the position they’re in now and where Celtic are?
They need three or four players minimum before they can think about challenging.
“So it comes down to whether the club are capable of financing moves for these players and persuading them to come up to Scotland.
“Rangers is a massive club, but if you look at where they are now as a club, it’s not good enough.
“They’re lacking in standards and lacking in leadership – that’s where the takeover will be key for them.
They need to get their finances straight and invest in players for the long-term, and it might take three, four, five years, but there have to be plans in place.
“For now, they need to accept they’re not going to win the league immediately, but they have to build to a stage where they can move forward.
“The background stuff needs to be right and then they might be in a position to make a challenge.
“At the moment, they’re miles off Celtic, but they need firm plans in place to close the gap.”
49ers to decide next manager at Ibrox after Philippe Clement sack
Philippe Clement was dismissed as Rangers manager last month as results continued to disappoint despite the off-field turmoil at Ibrox.
Now, plans are being put in place to hire a new boss after Barry Ferguson was appointed as the interim manager until the end of the season.
Football Insider revealed on 28 February that Steven Gerrard would be Rangers’ “dream appointment” while 49ers Enterprises are playing a key role behind the scenes.
The prospective new owners are expected to want their own man in charge, although they are keen to take their time to appoint the next Rangers manager.
