Sebastien Faure has revealed the prospect of Rangers returning to the top flight in less than three years was raised with him by manager Ally McCoist.
The French under-20 international signed a three-year deal with the Ibrox club last week, but he insisted he made the decision regardless of how long it takes for Rangers to climb up the leagues from the Third Division.
Stewart Regan, the SFA chief executive, said last week that league reconstruction is on the agenda for next season, with a working group to be set up that includes representatives of the SPL and the SFL. A 16-team top flight is among the formats being considered, and that could see Rangers return a year earlier than if they have to play through the leagues as they are currently set up.
Malcolm Murray, the Rangers chairman, said at the start of the season that Rangers might be back sooner than expected. All options are on the table, though, including retaining the status quo. It was mentioned to Faure during his discussions with the club, however.
"The coach has said to me that there is a possibility that we could get back to the top flight within two years," Faure said. "I'm here for three years so I hope we will be able to do that. Even if the manager hadn't said that, I would still have signed. Rangers aren't really a club that should be in the Third Division and I hope we get back to the top flight as soon as possible."
Faure left Lyon, where he was a graduate of the youth development programme, last summer. The 20-year-old had a trial at Leeds United, then two weeks at Murray Park. He impressed enough for McCoist to offer the centre-back a long-term contract.
"I've been following what has been happening since the start of the summer when we found out Rangers were going to be playing in the Third Division," he said. "I've known about Rangers as a legendary club from my time in France. When I was at Lyon, Rangers played against us and I've been to the stadium twice for games and been really impressed with it."
Meanwhile, Stoke City are set to sign Rangers' US international Maurice Edu, with only a medical and a work permit standing in the way of a deal being completed.
"City have agreed personal terms for the 26-year-old to move from Ibrox for an undisclosed fee," the English Premier League club said.
"The transfer is now subject to Edu passing a medical over the weekend and then being granted a work permit."
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