Jack Butland claims Rangers are ALWAYS being written off as keeper has a plan to deal with their many doubters

Jack Butland claims Rangers are ALWAYS being written off but has urged the club to embrace the title naysayers.

Last season's title challenge faltered and a Treble tilt turned into a Celtic Double thanks to Adam Idah's Scottish Cup Final winner. A turbulent pre-season has seen Ibrox closed for an indefinite period, forcing Philippe Clement's side into a Hampden flit until it's ready. The squad rebuild seems to have stalled as well with Gers needing to sell before adding more new faces and club stalwarts either gone or in the process of leaving.

But Butland was defiant when asked about the perception that the Premiership crown already looks like being Celtic's again before a ball is even kicked. And the keeper wants the Ibrox outfit to use the external doubts to it's advantage by proving them wrong on the park rather than talking about what they plan on doing or hope to achieve.

"People always write us off," he told Sky Sports. "That's one thing as time's gone by at this football club. This football club needs to embrace being written off. It has done. We need to do that and at the end of the day, it comes down to what's in the changing room and what's in this group. The following from the fans is always going to be there and it's going to take a collective effort from everybody.

"But we've been written off. We say it, but words are words. We've got to go and show it now and it's certainly something I believe we can do. We're looking forward to getting off to a good start on Saturday and if we can do that, we roll on. We kick on into Europe and whatever comes next."