Rangers are to pay a lasting tribute to the late Sandy Jardine by re-naming the Govan Stand in his honour.

The legendary player lost his battle with cancer in April but his 50-year contribution to the club will be marked in the new Sandy Jardine Stand, where he worked in recent years.

A dedication will be in place for the opening league game of the season against Jardine's former side Hearts at Ibrox on Sunday 10 August. His family will also be guests of the club on the day.

His widow Shona said: "My husband considered it a great honour and privilege to represent Rangers FC and I know he would be extremely proud to receive this lasting tribute from the club he loved."

Chief executive Graham Wallace said: "Sandy Jardine epitomised everything that is good about Rangers Football Club. He was a man of principle and class and his contribution throughout his career both on and off the pitch was truly incredible.

"His achievements are unlikely to be seen again in the modern game and this is a truly fitting way to honour Sandy's memory. The re-naming of the Govan Stand will be a permanent tribute to a man who gave everything for Rangers.

"He was a credit to Rangers for decades and his dignity, class and love for the Club shone through. We have lost a true gentleman but he will never be forgotten and everyone at the Club is immensely proud to re-name the stand in his honour."

Ally McCoist added: "There have been many great names associated with Rangers Football Club but I can think of no-one more deserving of this tribute than Sandy Jardine.

"A Rangers legend in every sense of the word, he will always be in our hearts and I am delighted he will be remembered forever with this permanent tribute at Ibrox Stadium.

"Sandy's achievements both on and off the pitch were second to none. He gave everything for this great club and we are all looking forward to paying tribute to him at the Hearts game next month."

Jardine was twice Player of the Year in Scotland and a key man in the club's Treble-winning teams of 1976 and 1978.

He also featured in two World Cups, winning 38 caps for Scotland and made almost 800 appearances for Rangers, scoring 77 goals in the process.

He won three League Championships, five Scottish Cups, five League Cups and the European Cup Winners' Cup in 1972 with the Light Blues and is rightly regarded as one of the greatest Rangers players of the post-war era.