RANGERS director Paul Murray believes the Lowland League is the perfect springboard for clubs like Gala Fairydean Rovers.

The Melrose-based business was talking after the Ibrox giants agreed to a working partnership with the Netherdale club.

Murray told us: "The Lowland League and the new pyramid system allows team to reach their full potential which is what you should have in any sport.

"Clubs with ambition like Gala now have opportunities that they never had before."

The historic deal between the two clubs will see a conveyor belt of talent from the Borders go through coaching sessions at Murray Park.

And youth teams from Ibrox will head the other way to play in friendlies.

Gala Fairydean Rovers first team manager Steven Noble has welcomed the tie up.

And he hopes it will benefit his own team in seasons to come. Noble said: "It is great for a club like ours to have a relationship with one of the top clubs in the country.

"Our youths will get the opportunity to be coached with the top youth teams and I would like to think that we'll see another John Collins in the years to come."

Noble was amongst several Fairydean Rovers coaches who have already been given a tour of the Murray Park training ground.

And he hopes that the opportunity to bring players on loan from Rangers could become a possibility.

He added: "It would be great if we could get some of the best young players coming this way on loan.

"We are all really excited about where this relationship can take us."

Throughout last Thursday Rangers coaches Gordon Craig and David McCallum delivered a presentation to the Netherdale coaches.