Barry Ferguson has played down the gap between Celtic and Rangers as he named one crucial factor in making sure the league flag returns to Ibrox next season.
The Light Blues secured title No55 under Steven Gerrard but the Hoops have came back fighting and won the title last year and can secure a second successive league triumph under Ange Postecoglou as early as Sunday against Hearts at Tynecastle. That would put the Hoops onto No53 - just two behind Rangers' haul.
Celtic hero John Hartson believes his old club will win 56 titles before Rangers as he expects the Parkhead side to dominate for years to come. But for Ibrox legendary skipper Ferguson, that is not an option as he branded it 'imperative' that Michael Beale and his troops win the Premiership title back next season.
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Writing in his Daily Record column, he said: "There is a gap but it’s nowhere near as large as it’s been claimed and as for Celtic beating my old club to the 56 titles landmark? That can’t be allowed to happen.
"No Rangers team should require extra motivation to win a league but that incentive alone makes it imperative the league flag is returned to Ibrox next season.
"Michael Beale has already spoken about the size of the rebuild and admitted it’ll be the largest for years so that tells you what’s being planned and I’m genuinely excited by it."
Rangers face a huge rebuild this summer with plenty of transfer activity expected. A number of players including Alfredo Morelos and Ryan Kent are out of contract with the duo expected to leave while fringe men like Scott Wright and Jon McLaughlin are reported to be heading for the exit door.
Jack Butland, Kieran Dowell and Morgan Whittaker are just a few of the names linked with a move north this summer, as Beale looks to get the bulk of his business done ahead of the Champions League qualifying campaign. He hopes to have new faces in the door by the return to pre-season training.
It is also all change off the field and Ferguson has explained the positives in that. He continued: "The revamp is also in full flow off the field and it suggests the new chairman John Bennett wants a freshness introduced across the boardroom and within the football department.
"Change shouldn’t be looked at negatively, with change you get new ideas and energy brought to the table so it’s no bad thing. John’s predecessor Douglas Park has done his time and Stewart Roberson will be replaced by James Bisgrove as CEO in the summer and now we’ve heard that Andrew Dickson, director of finance and football administration, is also moving on. Andrew is someone I know well and was brought in by David Murray in the early 1990s
"Director of football Ross Wilson is away to Nottingham Forest and Craig Mulholland will also leave after being head of the academy and all of these guys have been at the club for a number of years and have all played their part.
"The bottom line is the chairman believes it’s not only on the pitch where a revamp is required, we have every aspect of the running of the club being looked at and changes being made. Personally, I like what I am seeing.
"It will add a freshness, a new energy and ideas to drive Rangers forward. Football clubs must always adapt, all of these individuals who are leaving will be shaken by the hand and thanked for the part they’ve played and others will now come in and we could see things moving in a different direction with different ideas.
"Sometimes if you have been part of the furniture for a long time you need to take a step back and admit it’s time for someone else to come in and that’s maybe the case with someone like Craig."
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