Lee McCulloch urges players to stay at Rangers

Lee McCulloch has urged Rangers players who have remained at the club so far not to head for the exit door. (GETTY IMAGES)

Lee McCulloch has urged Rangers players who have remained at the club so far not to head for the exit door.

The versatile utility man - who grabbed the winner in yesterday's Ramsdens Cup win over Brechin - was one of the first to state his desire to stay at Ibrox despite playing in the Irn-Bru Third Division this season.

However, a question mark remains over the futures of others - such as Carlos Bocanegra, Maurice Edu and Dorin Goian - with a number of first team regulars having already sealed moves elsewhere.

McCulloch said: "We need to try to keep everybody that's in the dressing room and hopefully the manager is allowed to bring in two or three more to help everybody.

"We couldn't even fill the bench today. I definitely think we need bodies in - but hopefully everybody will stay as well."

Several high profile first team regulars refused to transfer their contracts to Charles Green's newco after the club was consigned to liquidation this summer.

But, despite failing to secure entry to the Clydesdale Bank Premier League and being forced down the divisions, Rangers still look set to attract a decent standard of player.

Former Hearts midfielder Ian Black has already signed, while Craig Beattie has been training with the club and Ally McCoist is hopeful of completing the capture of Dean Shiels.

McCulloch said: "It's the size of the club. Not everybody gets the chance to play at as big a club as Rangers are.

"They have been kind enough to me over the years and I've had the success so that's why I chose to stay.

"The amount of people who have come out and said they want to come to Rangers in the Third Division just shows the size of the club and how well it's followed."

Andy Little - who re-signed for Rangers on Friday - opened the scoring after four minutes at Brechin but an equaliser from Andy Jackson forced the tie into extra-time, before McCulloch claimed the winner.

He said: "It was good to win the game. It was our first game and I thought we were maybe a yard off (pace) all over the pitch due to lack of games but it was good to start the season with a win.

"I don't think there will be a culture shock this season - we are quite a level-headed dressing room.

"We can't pick our opposition, we just have to go out and win games whoever it is. We just want to keep winning."

McCoist faces a race against time to assemble a squad before a 12-month transfer embargo comes into effect on September 1.

Chief executive Green said: "I don't know about individual names, because that's Alastair's decision, but I know he's speaking to two or three.

"I've been speaking to two or three agents on his behalf. We would expect there would be more signings over the next seven days."

PA