The next Rangers manager is right up against it from the get-go.
That's the honest view of former Ibrox striker Ally McCoist who has pointed to the club's poor summer recruitment as a setback for Michael Beale's successor.
The likes of Cyriel Dessers and Sam Lammers have not hit the ground running since their big money transfers. Others such as Jose Cifuentes and Danilo also commanded big fees, although haven't been afforded as much game time up until this point.
Philippe Clement and Kevin Muscat are the leading contenders for the vacancy at Rangers, with a decision expected within the next few days.
McCoist believes whoever takes the job at his former club is facing an immediate uphill battle and will need to look to bring in more new players in the January transfer window.
He told talkSPORT: "Do you know the problem, the big problem? No matter who comes in they are going to have to take over a squad where the recruitment, quite frankly, hasn't been good enough.
"They are going to have the same players, I am not imagining they will be allowed to get anyone in until at least the window.
"It will depend on how much they are given because the previous manager was given a few quid to spend to go and get players."
Meanwhile, Celtic are reportedly set to reject Rangers' request for away fan tickets for the next derby encounter between the sides.
It's understood Rangers will look for 800 tickets from the Parkhead club for the next meeting between the teams during the festive period on December 30.
That comes after the Ibrox club offered Celtic the same allocation to their supporters for the first derby fixture of the season at the beginning of September.
The Scottish champions knocked back the offer of those tickets, with the game being played in front of home supporters only. Rangers felt they had carried out the essential checks and implemented necessary measures to ensure the small travelling band of Celtic supporters would be safe inside the ground.
