Bobby Russell has admitted that the gap between Sevco and Celtic is unbelievable.
Brendan Rodgers side went 22 points clear of the Ibrox lot last night while Mark Warburton scrambled round for youth team players from England to cover up the cracks.
The former city trader has had a horrendous time in the transfer market with his side held together by a 38-year-old defender and a 37-year-old striker.
Clint Hill and Kenny Miller are still waiting on contract offers for next season with Russell spelling out the state that the club are in despite the glowing tributes to the veterans.
“You look at the Rangers team and it’s clear they still have troubles at the back,” the seventies midfielder told the Daily Record.
“They have a 38-year-old in Clint Hill holding them together at one end and a 37-year-old in Kenny Miller doing the same up at the other end of the pitch. That’s hardly an ideal scenario for any team, even if it’s a credit to the pair of them for being there.
“Kenny is more than justifying his place. He’s good for a goal and works hard but he’s at an age when his career is winding down. I don’t care who you are, in football your age catches up with you.
Russell explained: “I’m sorry but you’re coming to the end of your career when you reach Kenny and Clint’s age. The player won’t realise it himself but you’re losing a half yard or more and it’s a grim reality of getting older.
“Hill needs someone beside him who can step up and perform and it’s not happened despite Rob Kiernan and Danny Wilson both having a go.
“Mark Warburton has tried to go with three at the back and the full-backs pushed forward but I’m not convinced with either combination.
“If Rangers want to make an attempt at challenging Celtic they need to be much stronger at the back.
“They’re lightweight as a side, they don’t seem to have anybody who’s capable of taking the game by the scruff of the neck.
“Even the best teams sometimes need to grind out results and that always appears a struggle for Rangers but the honest truth is Celtic are so far ahead it’s unbelievable.”
Russell’s views won’t be welcome at Ibrox as they try to gloss over Warbo’s disastrous transfer policy and the absence of money man Dave King.
Last week Davie Weir claimed that £100m wouldn’t be a guarantee of matching Celtic despite the presence of Warbo at the club for over 18 months.
It seems that being comprehensively outplayed and beaten three times by Celtic is starting to have an impact at Ibrox among those with a basic understanding of the game beyond the need to tell fans that the garden is rosy.