New Rangers boss makes Irish U21 his first signing

New manager Mark Warburton has started his Rangers revolution by signing former Ireland Under 21 captain Rob Kiernan.

The new Ibrox boss has wasted little time getting down to work rebuilding his Gers squad.

Just two days after being appointed, the former Brentford manager has had a reported £200,000 offer for Wigan defender Kiernan accepted by the Latics. Warburton’s bid is not without risk, coming just hours after Birmingham backed out of a move for the 24-year-old following problems with his medical.

Kiernan made 18 appearances for Wigan last year before being sent on loan to Birmingham for the last three months of the campaign, but he is now set for his Ibrox switch after seeing a permanent move to St Andrew’s fall through.

Kiernan is well known to Warburton, who he worked with at Brentford during another loan spell two years ago.

Warburton also coached the player when he was his youth academy boss at Watford.

The new Light Blues manager will now hope to make Kiernan the first of many new arrivals this summer after chairman Dave King ordered him to clinch promotion to the Premiership at the first attempt.

The former City trader has been left with just nine senior professionals after replacing Stuart McCall but has already been linked with a move for former Gers midfielder Lewis Macleod, who he took to Brentford back in January.

Danny Wilson, another ex-Ibrox youth product, is also understood to be considering a return to Gers after leaving Hearts.