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DAVIE WEIR today revealed the burning desire that is fuelling his ambition to stay at Rangers for another year.
The veteran defender, who turns 37 next month, has opened initial talks with boss Walter Smith over a one-year extension.
And Weir is desperate to get his hands on some silverware before he brings down the curtain on his career in Light Blue.
The Scotland man has held lengthy discussions with his wife, who remained in England with their children after his move north from Everton in January.
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He has been given the all clear to play on in Scotland for another year, and a deal should be agreed within the next fortnight.
And Weir revealed: "My hope would be to win something at the club. We won't win anything this season, and that shouldn't be the case at Rangers.
"You need to be putting trophies in the cabinet every year and hopefully Rangers can go on and win something next season.
"Talks are at quite an early stage. I have had a few conversations with the manager and said to him that I would like to stay on.
"I've also talked at length with my family and they would be OK with it. That was my biggest worry, so that's good.
"Football-wise it's been great, I've loved every minute of it at Rangers. I can't fault anything about the club and I would like to make it last that bit longer.
"My family situation is different with them being down south, but hopefully we can now get something sorted out."
Weir has been a massive influence on a Rangers defence that has kept seven clean sheets in the 10 SPL games since he arrived.
That dogged form has allowed Smith's men to win eight of those games and open up an eight-point gap on Aberdeen in the race for second place with five games of the season remaining.
"I've settled in quickly. I was in England for eight years, which was a long time. But it has been nice to come back to Scotland and I have really enjoyed it," added Weir.
The former Falkirk and Hearts man's decision to stay on will almost certainly spell the end for Karl Svensson at Rangers.
The Swede, who arrived from Gothenburg in the summer for £600,000, is way down a defensive pecking order that is likely to include Weir, Ugo Ehiogu, Andy Webster, Sasa Papac and Kirk Broadfoot next season.
Gothenburg are interested in taking him back and Svensson admitted: "I need to be playing. At the moment, I am not getting much action and that needs to change.
"I haven't spoken to the staff recently, but if they don't want to give me the chance then there is no point in staying."
Meantime, assistant boss Ally McCoist took in the Fulham v Man City game yesterday, with City's Belgian striker Emile Mpenza, who has signed a short-term deal until the end of the season, believed to be on the radar.
Rangers have also been linked with Anderlecht's Polish international right-back Marcin Wasileski, 26. He's been attracting attention after joining from Lech Poznan in January. |