DAVE KING hopes Rangers can overcome a 'great challenge' and take a significant step forward in the Champions League following their historic 55th title win last term.
Steven Gerrard's side ended the long wait for silverware by going unbeaten in the top flight and will now look to carry that momentum into the new campaign in the coming weeks.
Rangers have re-established their reputation on the continent during the last three seasons under Gerrard but former chairman King knows how important another European achievement would be on and off the park.
"It’s really difficult to qualify for the Champions League," King said. "The following year will be easier because the coefficient is improving and there is direct access.
"It’s great to be back there, but it’s going to be a great challenge to get through the qualifying rounds.
"I’m just hoping that the guys will get their business done early once again and get the squad up and ready to meet whatever challenges come their way in the knockout round.
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"Previously, our financial position was much more fragile than it is now. The importance of getting through early rounds was critical to the finances because we were running a deficit anyway. We wanted the deficit to be as small as possible.
"Other than the one mis-step we had with Pedro [Caixinha], where we very surprisingly got knocked out at a particularly early stage, it has gone particularly well under Steven. I’m really hoping that he can kick on from there in the Champions League."
Rangers returned to pre-season training earlier this week as Gerrard and his staff stepped up their preparations for their fourth term at Ibrox.
Gerrard has already added to his ranks ahead of the new season but the summer window could be more about who goes and who stays as Rangers brace themselves for interest in their star names.
King said: "I think it’s a big factor this year in the sense it is now less risky from the club’s point of view.
"If you looked, say, two, three or four years ago, we had players going out and players coming in. It can destabilise a club.
"The players coming in have to fit in and settle. You don’t know how they’re going to perform.
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"We had a situation where the players coming in were costing us money and no-one wanted to buy the players going out.
"Now, if Steven gets an offer for, say, a striker or another player, as long as he knows the money is coming in then he can look and see what he can get to deliver value again. At least he know has assets that he can turn into cash and recycle that into the squad.
"It will just be part of his ongoing planning this year. I would expect it to be a fairly seamless process in terms of players going out and players coming in.
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"Also, he’s already done a bit of early business by signing a couple of players halfway through last season to give them time to adjust. I think everything has been done very smartly at the club."
While Rangers are building on solid foundations under the guidance of Gerrard, the situation across the city is very different as Celtic embark on a new era following their failed ten-in-a-row bid.
Former Australia national team boss Ange Postecoglou has arrived from Japan to succeed Neil Lennon in the dugout and King is envisaging a tricky close season for Rangers' Old Firm rivals.
King said: "I think there are obvious risks. I think there are risks just in coming to the UK - and then Glasgow is a particularly difficult place to come into.
"There is a culture around it. It’s absolute fish bowl from the media and fans’ point of view.
"It’s not just from a footballing point of view. I think there’s a huge cultural adjustment. It’s a very, very difficult situation.
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"We saw that with Pedro. It could have worked but it didn’t work.
"Whereas bringing in someone like Steven, while Glasgow is still difficult, there is at least a comparative benchmark in Liverpool as to what it will be like.
"But coming from some of these foreign leagues is a big risk. It might work. But it’s definitely a big risk."
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