WHILE it will be some time before Rangers win another Scottish Premier League title, the Ibrox club's women's side has stepped up its efforts to be a force in the women's game.
As many as 10 new players have been signed, including experienced Scotland midfielder Megan Sneddon, but it is the appointment of head coach Angie Hind which has set a marker for their ambitions.
Hind was Anna Signeul's assistant during Scotland's Euro 2013 qualifying campaign and was head coach of the Ivy League Dartmouth College team in the United States before that. "She has a voracious appetite for the game and her work ethos is absolutely unstoppable," said Raymond Farrelly, who heads up Rangers' women's section.
Like Celtic and Hibernian, the Ibrox club decided to put a youth academy in place before turning their attention to challenging for the Scottish Women's Premier League title. They finished ninth last season with a very young side but the influx of new coaches and players confirms that the team is moving into the next stage of its development.
"This club is 140 years old, but the women's section has only been up and running for five or six," said Farrelly. "We don't expect miracles overnight but the new regime here is behind women's football. They are excited about the potential."
Hind and her players work out of Murray Park, which is a dramatic change of scenery for five of her new recruits. Two of the club's new coaches, and three of the new signings, including Sneddon, have been brought in from Celtic. Such a development in the men's game would be unthinkable, but the sentiment barely registered with Hind.
"It's certainly not a Rangers-Celtic thing and nor is it deliberate," she said. "I actually played in the same Kilmarnock team as Megan when she was 15 and it's the same with Michelle Barr, who I've worked with before."
Rangers, along with last season's runners-up Forfar Farmington, Celtic, Hibs and Spartans, are expected to be the main opposition to the all-conquering Glasgow City when the 2013 league season gets under way tomorrow. For Hind it could not be a tougher start, as City are first up at Petershill Park, the ground both clubs share.
Tomorrow's opponents haven't lost a league match for over four years but have their own problems. They lost strikers Jane Ross and Emma Mitchell to European clubs in the winter, while captain Rachel Corsie has a long-term knee injury. A further four players, including Emma Fernon and Christie Murray, are doubtful for the game.
Forfar are away to Falkirk, while Celtic travel to meet league newcomers Buchan. Hibs host Aberdeen.
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