Rangers should be aiming to win their 55th Scottish top flight title next season and Hearts' progress in the recently concluded campaign shows it is possible, ex-Gers defender Alan McLaren believes.

Mark Warburton's men were dominant in the Scottish Championship this season and eased to the title, and with it promotion to the top flight, where they will resume their rivalry with Celtic.




A debate is raging over what should represent a good season for Rangers next term and what the Gers can realistically hope to achieve in their first season back amongst Scotland's best.

For McLaren, the title is possible and he pointed to how Hearts managed a third place finish this season despite only having just been promoted. 
 


Asked on Rangers TV if a 55th title is realistic, McLaren replied: "You can't finish second or third here and expect it to be a good season.

relatedNewsStory

"Just look at Hearts. Hearts went up as champions and finished third, with not a lot of money invested.

"So with the right recruitment, the management style is not going to change so we're going to play attractive football, we're going to concede, but we're going to score goals, so we're going to win more games.

"55, it's achievable", the former defender added.

Warburton has already set about strengthening his squad, bringing in Jordan Rossiter from Liverpool and Joey Barton from Burnley.

And Accrington Stanley duo Matt Crooks and Josh Windass will arrive following the expiry of their contracts with the League Two outfit.