Kiernan close to Rangers move

New Rangers boss Mark Warburton hopes to make Wigan defender Rob Kiernan his first Ibrox signing after having an "undisclosed bid'' for the 24-year-old accepted.

The Latics have confirmed that Warburton, who only took up his role on Monday, wants to kick off his Gers rebuilding project with the centre-back's capture.

Kiernan, who has already experienced action in Scotland following a loan spell at Kilmarnock from previous club Watford back in 2010, made 18 appearances for Wigan last year before being sent out on loan to Birmingham for the last three months of the campaign.

Rangers have made their move just hours after the Republic of Ireland Under-21 international saw a permanent move to St Andrew's fall through.

Kiernan thought he was staying put after the Blues struck a deal with Wigan.

But Birmingham boss Gary Rowett backed out of the deal amid concerns raised during the player's medical.

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 look to make Kiernan the first of many acquisitions this summer ahead of the Scottish Championship outfit's promotion push.

He 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.

And another former Ibrox youth product Danny Wilson is also understood to be considering a return to Gers after leaving Hearts.