Mark Warburton agrees extension to Rangers contract

Rangers manager Mark Warburton has agreed a contract extension that will tie him to Ibrox until the summer of 2019.

Warburton revealed he and assistant David Weir would sign new contracts this week which take them beyond their current deals.

"I'm all agreed with the club,'' he said. "David and myself will sign another year to our contracts.''

Delays to the negotiations with the club after Rangers' Scottish Cup final defeat in May were interpreted in some quarters as a sign that Warburton might not be committed to staying at Ibrox in the long term, a situation which baffled the former Brentford boss.

The 53-year-old said: "All the speculation was due to a 12-day holiday. It was no more than that. 'Why have you not signed?' Because I was away with the wife for 12 days.

"It's a privilege for me to be here in this position and for David with his status at the club. It's a great place to be and we have extended for another year until 2019.''

Warburton, speaking after a Callaway Golf event at Ibrox, hopes the news will provide a boost for supporters and players days before their season kicks off with a Betfred Cup clash at Motherwell on Saturday.

More than 40,000 fans have already bought Ibrox season tickets ahead of the Premiership campaign.

"It wasn't a distraction to me but the stories just suddenly appeared,'' Warburton said.

"But the fact that season ticket sales are where they are shows the fantastic support and that the fans are excited for the season.

"And what we have to do is prepare well and hopefully the performances send them home happy.''