Stuart McCall, the new caretaker manager at Rangers, last night admitted that hauling the stuttering Glasgow club back into the Scottish Premiership at the end of the season would be one of the biggest achievements of his career.

 

The 50-year-old, who was part of the Rangers side that won nine Scottish titles in a row during his playing days at Ibrox, took over the managerial reins until the end of the campaign from Kenny McDowall on another day of change and feverish activity.

McCall, who guided Motherwell to a brace of runners-up finishes in Scotland's top flight as well as a Scottish Cup final appearance, has been out of the club scene since resigning from his post at Fir Park last November but the former Scotland internationalist is relishing the huge challenge that has been presented to him.

Rangers have won just one of their last seven fixtures but, ahead of his first match in charge against struggling Livingston tomorrow, McCall believes that resurrecting the club's fortunes on the park and guiding his side to promotion through the Scottish Championship play-offs would be at the top of his glittering cv.

"It would have to be up there and I suppose it would (be my best achievement)," said McCall. "I am not putting the boot into the players, they know this themselves, but I think everyone would accept that what has happened on the park has been unacceptable. But I saw enough good squad players as I looked around today and I saw flashes of it in training.

"Playing for Rangers is different. You need a different mentality. You have to win, win, win and even when you are winning you have to try to win with style. I get paid to try and get the best out of a group of players. There is no magic formula or a pill you can give them for confidence. It's about trying to restore self-belief. A couple of results can change things. The supporters are there, willing them to do well. They don't want to come and boo. The club has had a kicking, but the team have had two promotions in the past two seasons and there is still an opportunity to get another one this year. I know what the expectation levels are at this club. It's a gamble, it's a massive challenge but it's an opportunity I never thought I'd get and I had to take it. It's an honour and a privilege to be asked to come and help out at this club until the end of the season."