Former Rangers boss Mark Warburton has urged the club’s supporters to keep their faith on Graeme Murty, as the Gers are still far off from reaching the heights of Celtic. Rangers have made decent moves in the transfer window over the past year, but they have not been able close to the gap on the Hoops, who have reached the Champions League qualification stage on a regular basis.

Speaking on the Premier League Daily, Warburton, who managed Rangers between 2015 and 2017, admitted that the Gers have a distinct financial gap to the Hoops owing to the latter’s prowess in the Champions League. Brendan Rodgers’ side have reached the group stage of the elite competition in each of the previous two seasons, and this has brought them financial rewards to stay aloft of their cross-town rivals.

Warburton said: “You have to recognise Celtic have been in the Champions League now for the last few years, done well to get into the group stage and with that comes financial rewards.All that does there is increase the gap between Celtic and Rangers. Every year you are fighting now to close that financial gap.The longer Celtic are exposed to Champions League football, the greater the financial divide becomes.Rangers need the investment. They need the investment and need to dampen some expectation and recognise they have to build the club back up.”

Rangers look set to finish behind Celtic once again in the Scottish Premiership table, but they still have plenty to play for in the Scottish Cup. The Gers are up against Celtic in the semi-final stage of the Cup competition at Hampden Park, and they require a rare victory to push them through to the final. Rangers have not beaten Celtic since the 2011/12 Premiership season, where they picked up a 3-2 triumph in an ill-disciplined encounter.