Jermain Defoe feels Rangers are currently lacking experience and character in their dressing room.
The former striker was one of the veterans during his time at Ibrox, signed as a 36-year-old by Steven Gerrard.
Alongside him were Steven Davis and Allan McGregor providing the necessary knowhow and guidance to younger players.
Defoe felt the team had the perfect blend at the time and it is something currently missing at the club, with only James Tavernier there to provide experience.
He told The Scotsman: “When you talk about recruitment, I felt like at the time the club recruited well.
“Steven was clever the way he did it. It was a good mix. You had the younger players. You had the boys who were Rangers fans, those who understood what it took to play for that football club.
“Then he brought in the likes of myself and Davo [Steven Davis], obviously Greegsy [Allan McGregor]. I remember speaking to Stevie over the summer and asking who we needed to get in? I phoned Joe Aribo and told him he needs to come. We thought who's the young talent out there that can come in and bring a little bit of quality? Then he went and got Glen Kamara. I just felt like there was a good mix with the senior players, the players that were there, and some young players.
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“We had a really tight group, really close, and we just had that belief that we could just win every game. We managed the changing room, so Stevie didn't even have to do that. You had the players that have been there already, that had won loads of league titles there, plus the senior boys had come in. We made sure the standards were just kept every single day when we trained.
“Rangers are missing that. When I look at the team and the squad, I just feel like you're missing those characters. Obviously, Tav’s [James Tavernier] there, and he will do that. But you need more than one. You need at least five or six in a leadership group that will manage the changing room. Because it can become a difficult place if you're not winning games."
Defoe was a player-coach towards the end of his time in Glasgow and has since worked in the academy of Tottenham Hotspur, another of his former clubs.
He revealed he actually tried to work his way back to Ibrox over the summer.
"I tried to go back in the summer," he added. I’ve done all my coaching badges, and I’d love to be in the club in some capacity.
"I understand what it’s like, I’ve won a league title there - it’s just one, but I get it.”
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