A fresh wind blows over Murray Park, but will it prove a wind of Premierleague change? Nacho Novo has became Rangers' sixth purchase of a frenzied summer of bargain hunting, with Alex McLeish promising more to follow as he attempts to restore pride and silverware to the club.

The revolution does not begin and end at the big boys' playground, either. Ever mindful of the club's hideous debt and the need to nurture the talents of Chris Burke, Alan Hutton, et al while rearing the next generation, Rangers have also sacrificed the experience of Tommy McLean, presumably in favour of a more modern coaching approach, and have released long-serving chief scout, Ewan Chester, after a succession of less than inspired recommendations.

The benefits of the behind-the-scenes shake-up will only become apparent in time. That, though, is a commodity not afforded to McLeish. He is well ahead of last season's schedule, when the sale of Barry Ferguson, in particular, ruined a summer's preparation. Not that the end result would have been different.

Given the comings and goings, and those who don't know whether they're coming or going, and predicting McLeish's strongest line-up for next season becomes a game littered with high-scoring Scrabble possibilities.

It is one the manager will consider carefully with just more than a month to set the mould. The Champions League qualifiers in late August will not simply provide the acid test for a new-look team, but the outcome may also determine McLeish's very future at the club with the first Old Firm encounter scheduled in the immediate aftermath of their initial European foray.

It can be assumed that the new recruits will form the backbone of the side: Jean-Alain Boumsong will partner either Marvin Andrews or Zurab Khizanishvili if, as seems likely, Craig Moore is sold; Alex Rae and Dragan Mladenovic will bolster the midfield; while Dado Prso and Novo will attempt to outgun a Celtic attack bereft of Henrik Larsson.

Before crystallising his formation, McLeish must first make decisions on those whose days seem numbered.

Little interest has been expressed in Fernando Ricksen, who has expressed a desire to leave for Italy or Spain. He is available for nothing next year, and while Rangers have attempted to engineer his departure for around (pounds) 1m, it seems they have little alternative but to keep him for the remainder of his contract.

Michael Ball has been on 49 appearances since the end of last season, when relegated to the substitutes' bench in favour of Paolo Vanoli. It has since transpired that (pounds) 500,000 is owed to Everton if he plays another match and, given his uninspiring return from injury last season, it may prove better financial sense to sell one of their high earners.

Central to the next phase of Rangers' redevelopment, though, is the decision on whether or not to offer Moore a new contract. Criticism of the club's asset-stripping policy earned a rebuke from the manager, and the

Australian's willingness to represent his country at the Olympic Games when Rangers walk the Champions League tightrope has been received with near-apoplexy.

The relationship between McLeish and Moore is thought to have deteriorated, perhaps beyond repair. With question marks over Moore's fitness after more surgery to a troubled knee, there is a feeling that an unsettled captain may no longer be worth appeasing.

He has been told to prove his fitness before negotiations begin but if Moore returns to England, there is a concern over the lack of natural leaders.

Stefan Klos, as vice-captain, is an obvious candidate but a shy disposition is hardly a desired attribute when the manager promoted buzzwords such as ''character'', ''desire,'' and ''commitment''. Alex Rae and Boumsong have been mentioned, yet a 35-year-old is hardly likely to ensure long-term stability, while the Frenchman's admission that Rangers is a short-term stepping stone to the Premiership should discount him.

With Mikel Arteta due to complete a (pounds) 3.5m move to Real Sociedad this week, there is no better opportunity for Michael Stewart to

re-establish himself as the force Sir Alex Ferguson had anticipated before the mid-fielder disappeared.

Now 23, and having watched enviously as Darren Fletcher has dethroned him as Old Trafford's great Scottish hope, Stewart has until next month to prove himself worthy of another shot. Given that he made no impression while on loan at Nottingham Forest, and admitted his initial reaction upon being released by United was ''how far will I fall?'' Stewart would do well to trawl the archives strewn with wasted talents.

Radical improvement will also be expected of Peter Lovenkrands yet Rangers recruitment drive has yet to even out the number of exits, leaving McLeish with the perennial problem of insufficient depth of squad.