By Andrew Dickson

OVER the last 19 months and more, the lack of money being spent on new players by Rangers has been a bone of contention for manager Walter Smith and fans alike.

But former Light Blues favourite Dado Prso insists with hindsight that financial restrictions have been the making of the Ibrox team rather than its downfall.

Back in Prso's spell in Glasgow, the recruitment of signings for multi-million pound fees was not uncommon.

And although the combative Croatian arrived from AS Monaco on a Bosman free transfer, many others came in for seven-figure sums.

Amongst them were the likes of Thomas Buffel, Barry Ferguson, Julien Rodriguez and Kevin Thomson.

More recently, the club's level of debt has meant Gers have had to become more prudent and they are making positive progress in terms of reducing their arrears.

Cutting back has frustrated many and it has meant Smith has had to stick with the majority of the squad he has had at his disposal for much of the last two years.

Yet against the odds, doing so has started to bear fruit and now his players could be just a few weeks from landing the eighth domestic Treble of Rangers' history.

In a strange way, having to cut cloth has arguably galvanised the club and it is on an upward spiral again.

The Light Blues' on-pitch resurgence has come despite Smith's preference of shipping in reinforcements to compliment the players already under his command being denied.

With Gers 13 points clear in the SPL- even though they have a smaller pool to choose from than bitter rivals Celtic - they are in an excellent position at the top of the SPL.

That has happened with a large Scottish contingent in the side and that also represents changed days from when Prso earned a living on the south side of the Clyde.

Between 2004 and when he retired in the summer of 2007, the Zadar-born hitman was one of several foreigners who were regulars in the first XI.

Indeed, there were several occasions when there were maybe only two or three Scots in the team.

Now, Allan McGregor, Steven Whittaker, David Weir, Thomson, Kris Boyd, Kenny Miller and Lee McCulloch are all starters every week.

Although Prso came from other shores to play for Rangers, he thinks it is a good thing there's more emphasis on home-grown players now.

The 35-year-old said: "Not having any money to spend was looked upon as a bad thing for Walter but I don't know if that is the case.

"Because foreign players are usually more expensive, he has had to stick with the Scottish guys in his team and that has actually worked out really well.

"The mentality of the Scottish people and the guys who grew up supporting the club is what Rangers need right now and it's what is making them successful again.

"Whenever they get good results at the moment, I don't think it is a coincidence that they have seven home-grown players in their side.

"I know it sounds funny that I, a foreigner, am saying that but I really don't think it's a bad thing at all.

"When you have lots of money, it's nice to be able to bring in foreign players but not every foreigner adapts to playing in the SPL because it is difficult.

"Some of them might find it hard to get used to Scottish life, the weather and everything and when that happens, you have wasted your money.

"There is a lot to be said for bringing your own players in and it's not a bad situation Rangers are in at all."

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