CRAIG Mulholland, head of youth at Rangers, is adamant that Murray Park can become one of the top 15 academies in Europe. The Ibrox side are currently rated around the 30-mark in terms of players generated for the top leagues in Europe but their plans have been re-energised and streamlined since the arrival of Mark Warburton and his backroom staff last summer and Mulholland is targeting even greater efficiency.

"I have set everyone in the academy a target," said Mulholland. "We are sitting about number 30 in Europe just now in terms of where we are ranked. That is based on how many players you produce that play in the top 30 leagues in Europe but we have set the target of getting into the top 15.

"When I first said it, people were saying ‘that is a bit ambitious’ but when you look at the clubs that are there, I am absolutely sure we can go and achieve that. It might mean so many players one year and so many another year but we have got to be ambitious and we have got to produce a better quality of player for the club and the country than we have done in the past."

While Scottish talent at the younger age groups can often hold its own, one clear area where improvement is possible is the attrition rate in the late teenage years. To that end Brian McClair and Gordon Strachan are currently undergoing a consultation exercise with a view to potential tinkering with the format of the SPFL Development League and Mulholland admits it is an area which needs some work.

"It has got to get better," said Mulholland. "There is a big debate about youth football. I met with Brian McClair the other day and spent an hour and a half with him. In this country, up to Under-17s, I think we have got a lot right. But that transition from 17s to first team is a big area we need to change and look at in terms of the competition we give the players and also the environment around the players in that Under-20s area. If we can get that bit right, there is talent in the country. But I am not sure we have got that bit right yet."

Murray Park has been a source of debate since its inception - but has produced established internationals like Alan Hutton, Allan McGregor and Charlie Adam. While the production line has slowed in recent years, Barrie McKay has been a polished first team performer this season and there are talented kids like Ryan Hardie, Ross and Robbie McCrorie in the youth ranks. After numerous visits to elite youth academies around the continent, the consensus is that the club must develop its own first principles, rather than too closely replicate any other model. To that end, recruitment for the academy prioritises technique above athleticism, with the focus on Scottish talent ahead of importing talented young players from abroad.

"It has been brilliant for me because we have got Mark, who has been an Academy Director in England, David Weir, who was a youth coach at Everton and Frank McParland, who was Academy Director at Liverpool," said Mulholland. "From my point of view, it would be stupid for all our Academy staff not to get every bit of information out of them that we can. The manager has come to the coaches in service in the academy, David has come to the scouts in service and Frank has been involved. From the top of the club right through now, we have got one philosophy, one playing style and hopefully, whether that is myself or the gaffer or whoever is here in the future, that will become a Rangers way as opposed to a Craig Mulholland way or a Mark Warburton way.

"We are making a lot of changes in the Academy just now in terms of culture and playing style and we recognise that we need to do it better and do it differently if we are going to achieve better outcomes," he added. "We are a big football club so when you go across Europe, people recognise our name and want to come and play for us. If we can get the playing style right and the culture right, and that is about respect, discipline, about every player that comes through the blue gates being desperate to be a footballer. It is also about recruiting the right type of players, ones that can look after the ball and be footballers first. If we can get all that right, then there is no reason why we can’t become one of the top academies in Europe. We do look at other countries, of course we do. But our priority must be Scotland first."

It always helps in this regard when the Rangers Youth Development Company director of operations Colin Stewart can hand over a £175,000 cheque from their fund raising activities. "Colin and his team do a great job and we are really grateful for the money we receive," said Mulholland. "Without their support, we wouldn’t be able to look at the sports science aspect, the medical, the analysis, the education and welfare, all the things that will become critical if we are going to produce players that can play for Rangers in the Champions League."