Michael Beale honoured Jimmy Bell as a "father figure" of the Rangers training ground before his passing last year - but admits he's made some changes at Auchenhowie.

The Ibrox boss paid tribute to "good friend" Bell who served as kitman at Rangers until his sudden death last year - with Scottish football united in mourning.

Bell had been a key figure at Rangers having worked at the club since 1986.

He also mentioned former Rangers doctor Mark Waller - now at Leicester - as a second "father figure" the club have lost.

Beale explained: "No-one had really changed, but we had lost two people.

"We had lost Jimmy Bell obviously which was a really difficult thing for everyone because he was a father figure of the training ground.

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"And we lost Doc Waller, who was also a father figure at the training round.

"Coming back, I felt the weight of those two guys not being there.

"That was nothing against the boys in those roles now, they are doing a fantastic job.

"But they were two older gentlemen, and because I'm slightly younger I like the grey hair around me.

"Neil Banfield coming in has given me grey hair around me as well.

"Obviously I came back without five really close friends that I've worked with here before, so that was a bit different - I was wondering how the players would have taken to that, but they have been a credit to the club so far."

The Ibrox boss then  revealed - in a sit down Rangers TV interview with Emma Dodds and Kevin Thomson - that the club are in a "halfway house" with training ground changes as he referenced previously banned wine gums and cans of coke which he has stamped down on since returning.

Beale added: "That was all in place to be honest - but there were one or two things that my good friend Jimmy Bell re-introduced that I had to sort of cut in half a little bit.

"There was the odd can of coke around , and wine gums in the changing room, which Thommo [Kevin Thomson] will remember was banned previously, so we are in a half way house at the moment."

Now, Beale turns to assistant Neil Banfield when he's looking for advice as he detailed the key role the former QPR coach plays in holding him accountable.

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He said: "Neil has been good, he has known me since I was really young, we didn't keep in contact for 20 years but when he came in he was a great face to see.

"I was a bit in awe of whether if I should continue to work with him, because he had been my coach when I was a kid.

"How would he react to now working alongside me or underneath me if you like?

"But he has been magnificent, he has a unique job, which is at any moment at any time if I get to big for my boots or get too down or negative, to kick the door down and give it to me straight.

"That is part of his role as being an older person - he stands back and watches a lot so I trust him.

"Damian [Matthew] and Harry [Watling] have got slightly different roles, I have known them personally outside.

"Then I have one or two mentors in terms of people I have worked with outside.

"But I want to do it my way."