Supporters were in attendance both home and away following the second string last season, and in an exclusive interview with RangersTV, Mulholland emphasised the importance the Rangers support has had in equipping the B team with the mentality to perform in first team football.
He explained: “We’re ultimately trying to prepare our players for a Rangers first team, even the ones that don’t make it here will have careers elsewhere.
“To play in front of 9,000 fans at Ibrox [last season against Celtic B], there was a pressure on them that we can’t replicate when we play at a training ground.
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“To then go to Parkhead and play in front of an away crowd only, that was intimidating for them. What pleased me was not just the technical or tactical parts, but also the mentality of the boys and how they went and handled that situation.
“It means when they do transition into a first team, they take that mentality with them.
“I can only thank the Rangers fans; they play a fundamental part in the development of these players when they turn up – that has been massive for us and something that we need to continually try and replicate season on season.”
Mulholland emphasised that the club’s biggest goal is to win trophies, however he insisted that the key objective of the department is to develop their young players as they head towards the senior game.
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He added: “We will never say to a player that when they play for Rangers at any level that they shouldn’t win the game and the minute that they put on that blue jersey they must understand that we’re a club that wins trophies.
“However, from an Academy point of view, we will never internally amongst the staff prioritise that. If we have the best players, play with a Rangers game model, and develop talent then we should win trophies.
“It was great to see the U18s at Hampden [last season] and the B team lift the Glasgow Cup, but for us the wins will always be the players to the first team and the process that underpins their development.”
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RANGERSTV: A subscription to RangersTV starts from just £6 per month, and provides not only exclusive access to the club’s teams but also original feature videos and documentaries, our incredibly popular Inside Ibrox and Away Days shows and our extensive archive of match action from through the years.
SEASON 22/23 THIRD KIT: Rangers and Castore unveiled next season's third kit which is a sizzling combination of orange, navy and white. Now available online and in The Rangers Stores.
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