Rangers warn Kenny Miller over wage demands

Miller was the Scottish Premier League's top goalscorer last season

Kenny Miller will have to agree to a significant drop in wages to return to Rangers, according to Ibrox director of football Gordon Smith.

Smith said that, although manager Ally McCoist was keen to sign Miller from Bursaspor, Rangers could not compete with the player's current wages.

"Is Kenny prepared to look at the wage structure of Scottish football as opposed to Turkish football?" he said.

"That is what attracted him there in the first place. He is very well paid."

Miller left Rangers for Bursaspor in January but is thought to be keen to return for a third spell in Govan.

Smith believes Miller is fully aware that he will have to accept a much lower wage to secure a move back to Ibrox.

"We need to find out if he's available, if he's available at a set price and at a price that we can pay," Smith commented.

"I understand he has made it clear to people in the media that, if he comes back here, it would not be on the same sort of basis financially.

"I think he does realise that the only way we could consider it is by putting himself in a position where it is attractive for us."

The former SFA chief executive confirmed the club are still interested in Aston Villa defender Carlos Cuellar and Dundee United striker David Goodwillie.

However, he warned that Goodwillie's appearance for United in the Europa League against Slask Wroclaw could cast doubt over any move to Rangers.

"It's something we would have to consider," he said. "If we played in the Europa League later in the season, he would be cup-tied.

"We also wouldn't be able to play him in the initial Champions League qualifiers either.

"It is still definitely an option we would like to keep open. He's certainly a player Ally is interested in."

Smith is hopeful that central defenders Majid Bougherra and David Weir will sign contract extensions.

"We were always looking to have Bougherra playing for us this season," he said. "The possibility now is that he is looking to talk to us with a view to extending his contract.

"A lot of people thought Majid Bougherra said he didn't want to stay at Rangers.

"That's certainly not the case. There is a possibility that he could be staying for a longer time.

"We are in discussions with Davie Weir and his agent just now about renewing his contract, so we should hopefully know more about that in the next 48 hours."

Smith also moved to allay fears that midfielder Steven Davis could leave the club this summer.

"We've offered Steven Davis an extension to his contract," he added.

"We've had no offers and we're not interested in selling."