Mark Walters urges Rangers to transfer to England

The former Ibrox winger knows such a move would be a blow for the game north of the border but believes his old club should look after themselves.

Rangers currently play in the Irn-Bru Third Division after  liquidation was confirmed in the summer and they lost their status as a top-flight club.

The idea of quitting Scotland has already been mooted by Ibrox chief executive Charles Green, who is unhappy with league reconstruction plans.

Walters told Rangers’ website: “Maybe Rangers should be a bit selfish, try to go into the English leagues and build up that way.

“That would definitely be a more commercially viable route and, down in England, it seems as though Rangers were a bit harshly treated in some respects.

“I don’t think it would be a bad thing if they tried to get in, although I understand the problems there would be in Scotland if Rangers left the game there.”

The door appears to be firmly shut on a move to the Barclays Premier League, although the Conference appeared open to the idea of Rangers joining.

Walters added: “That would be the fairest way to do it and,  although it would maybe take five years to get up to the  Premier League, it would be a good long-term plan.”