Rangers manager Ally McCoist takes his squad to Germany on a pre-season tour knowing last season's success has already been consigned to the history books.
Walter Smith's last campaign at the helm ended with a final-day Clydesdale Bank Premier League title victory at Kilmarnock to add to the Co-operative Insurance Cup which was won earlier in the season.
New boss McCoist, promoted from assistant, has organised an eight-day training camp which will also involve games against Sportfreunde Lotte on Thursday, Bochum on Saturday and then Bayer Leverkusen on July 13. He claims the focus at Rangers has already turned to winning the fourth SPL title in a row, telling RangersTV: "We are off and running."
He added: "It doesn't seem so long ago that we were dancing about Rugby Park and then at Ibrox but that's history now.
"We have to go and retain the championship.
"We are off to Germany and it's a place that has been very good to us in the past.
"The facilities are very good, the games are ideal and the people are great."
McCoist hopes to complete his first new signing since taking over, with Spanish midfielder Juan Manuel Ortiz set to join, while McCoist is hopeful midfielder Steven Davis will be next to pledge his future to Rangers following long-term deals awarded to Allan McGregor and Steven Whittaker.
Light Blues goalkeeper McGregor penned a new six-year deal while defender Whittaker has signed up for five and McCoist is keen for Davis - in the final year of his contract - to extend his stay in Govan.
McCoist said: "I don't want to tempt fate but contract negotiations are continuing with Steven and his representatives and I would be very hopeful that we could get something organised with Steven as well."
Source: PA
