Assistant manager David Weir has said the signing of Joey Barton is just another piece in the pie when it comes to improving Rangers ahead of next season.
With Burnley’s Player of the Year being the latest addition to the group ahead of the 2016/17 season, he follows Liverpool’s Jordan Rossiter and Accrington’s Matt Crooks and Josh Windass coming into the group as fresh faces ahead of the new season, and Weir explained to the Official Site that it was very much another step in the right direction to improve the quality and the options within the group after the Championship title winning year we had.
‘Absolutely, Joey brings different attributes than Jordan does, but the whole club needs strengthening. It always does and that`s always been the traditions that Rangers have – to try and keep building on what we have got. We were successful last season in regards to our target of getting promotion, but we`ve always got to keep pushing. We`ve always got to look to improve and Jordan Rossiter and Joey Barton, allied with Matt Crooks and Josh Windass coming as well, have added to the squad and will help us to improve, help us to get better and we still need to keep pushing all the time. We`ll continue to do that.’
He went on to add that he was looking forward to really getting to work now on the coming campaign and our return to the Premiership.
‘It`s great, I think we are very keen to get organised early to get an idea of where we are and who we are going to have to work with. Having got Joey and Jordan in as well as the other lads it does give us a base, it gives us something to work with and it gives us an idea of where we are going to be. We`ll always continue to push and try to add and improve where we can, but it`s definitely been a good start.’
With Barton’s arrival also being the same day it was announced that David Templeton, Nicky Clark and Nicky Law would move on when their deals expired this season, he went on to add.
‘Absolutely, they have been a big part of what we`ve done this season. They have all contributed in various forms and, as I say, the football club is constantly evolving. As many players come through the door other players go out the other door, and we have got to thank them for their contribution in what has been a good season for Rangers. We wish them all the best for the future, they are all good lads and I`m sure they`ll go and have really good careers.’
