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I was actually really excited when we first got him after the way MW spoke about him he was like the Lionel Messi of the scouting world. It was looking promising at the start using his contacts to search for talent in the U21 English leagues etc and thought we could maybe unearth some gems and this was going to be our new signing policy or using the loan system for young hungry players but it hasn't worked out that way unless Dodoo, Windass, Crooks, Garner and Rossiter turn into world beaters. I'm not sure what everyone's opinion is on him and I know the final decision lies with the manager but for me I've not been overly impressed so far

MARK WARBURTON hopes the appointment of a new scouting team will be another step in the right direction for Rangers. The Ibrox boss has been working without a group of talent spotters since his move north of the border in the summer but still overhauled his squad ahead of the new campaign. The issue of lack of a proper network of scouts was first raised by Ally McCoist a couple of years ago but Warburton is now seeking to address the major problem. Warburton said: “Yes, hopefully we’re making some real inroads and I’m very confident in the very near future we’ll have something to say on that. “Again, as with players, it’s about getting the right people. You have to get the right people at the right time and they’ve got to add value to the club. “There’s no point saying I’ve got five scouts for you, they’ve got to be people who know exactly what we are looking for, what the players profile is that David (Weir) and I are demanding here and understanding what we really are seeking. “So those people are not all over the place, we have to make sure we get the right people and we’re very close to getting them.” It was a frantic but fruitful summer for Warburton and Weir as they transformed the squad they inherited at the end of a nightmare campaign for Rangers. And the Gers boss is confident he will have the right scouts in place to help him with the second phase of his Ibrox rebuilding job. He said: “You have to trust these people implicitly. Otherwise, all that happens is you get a report on your desk saying that there’s a good player down in Devon. “Then you travel all the way down there to watch him and think: ‘He’s nowhere near it.’ You’ve got to trust those people to watch players three or four times and to find out what his character is like, how he is off the pitch. “Does he look after himself? What’s his body fat like? Does he have family? Are there any previous problems you’re aware of? “It’s just making sure that a character can come into our environment and add value. “Because if you have a bad apple in your dressing room then you have a real problem. “There are some really good people out there, although there are average people in any industry. It’s all about how we get the best ones to come to us.” Warburton added eleven players to his Murray Park pool during the close season and has been rewarded with a superb start to the campaign. Rangers are nine points clear at the top of the Championship as the likes of James Tavernier and Martyn Waghorn have hit the ground running at Ibrox. And, when asked if he had been surprised by his successful strike rate of signings so far, Warburton said: “No and I don’t mean that in an arrogant way at all, but you have to do your homework. “We knew a lot of those players, the likes of Wes (Foderingham) we’d played against Swindon many times, Tavernier with Rotherham and Bristol City, Waggy I knew very well from Leicester City and Rob Kiernan we signed at Watford when he was a young boy. “So a lot of these players we knew about. The big worry for me was could we get them before others did. “Rob was very close to signing for a Championship team, likewise Waggy and Tavernier and they turned down offers in the Championship down south to come here. Share article “So that was the biggest concern I had, could we move in time to get them on board. “Once we had them on board I’m not surprised, they’ve got quality, a real hunger and values on and off the pitch and they add to the overall squad and I’m delighted with that.” SOURCE: EVENING TIMES Sounds very promising and good, well done to the gaffer helping to improve our club

What is the news nowadays, about developing a European scouting network for us? The way I see it we are banking on W&W for their contacts in England for BPL youths for a year, maybe two. Which is fine by me for the next year or so, but can anyone shed any light into the proposed development of this important factor.

I checked out the thread about our latest addition, Ryan Finnie... a promising youth player and I'm sure everyone is delighted. However, on his Twitter I saw something possibly more promising and I'm sure many will agree... We're apparently getting Scouts on our books who clearly have an eye for spotting talent in the youth. If this was known beforehand apologies for the thread, but I wasn't aware of this. Surely a good sign for things to come.