Former Sheffield United boss Weir has ambitious plans for Rangers

New Rangers Manger Mark Warburton (left) and Assistant Manager David Weir are unveiled at Ibrox stadium

The club’s former skipper has returned to Ibrox as assistant to new boss Mark Warburton four years after retiring as a player.

The veteran defender helped lead the club to three successive titles under Walter Smith and also played in the 2008 UEFA Cup final.

His last game before hanging up his boots was a Champions League qualifying defeat to Malmo in July 2011.

But within six months, former owner Craig Whyte had cast the club into administration.

Forced to start again in the lower leagues when administration turned into liquidation, Gers now bear little resemblance to the club Weir left.

But the former Hearts, Everton and Scotland centre-back believes the Championship outfit can climb their way back to those lofty heights he once enjoyed.

Asked how different the Rangers he has rejoined is to the one he left, the 45-year-old said: “Time will tell. Obviously I’ve been away and I’m just back today. This is our first day working and there are a lot of things that are the same.

“But where the club is in actual football terms is different. Our job is to get it back to where it wants to be and where it needs to be.

“That starts from now.”

Weir joined up with Warburton at Brentford 18 months ago and together they led the Bees to promotion to the SkyBet Championship.

They almost made it a double success last season before Middlesbrough killed of their hopes of reaching the Barclays Premier League with victory in the play-off semi-finals.

But in their short time together, Weir is convinced former city trader Warburton has what it takes to succeed at Ibrox.

He said: “Hopefully I can help Mark get used to the surroundings here. I think we work well together.

“We’ve got different skills, we’ve got things we can help each other with. Mark is an experienced manager, he’s had lots of different experiences in different walks of life so I don’t think I’ll have to tell him too much. He’s very clever with what he does.

“I’ve got complete belief that he’s going to be successful.

“I think he’s got a lot of skills. He’s obviously got a business background, so he knows how that side of the club works.

“He communicates with people and he is also a good coach. Don’t underestimate that. He spends his time on the training ground, he wants to train, he wants to be out on the grass doing what he’d say he enjoys most.

“He’s been a sporting director as well so he’s got a really balanced profile in regards to what makes a modern football manager.”