Michael Beale insists his recent trip to Rome was no holiday.
The Rangers manager sparked confusion on social media yesterday, as he posted photos of the Colosseum in the Italian capital.
However, it turned out that the Gers boss was at home in Glasgow on Thursday - and that his journey to Rome was actually last week.
Beale revealed that he was in Italy to represent the club by speaking to contacts and taking in some games.
He told the media: "It wasn't a holiday! I was off working for the club in Italy last weekend to meet some contacts and watch some games. I love recruitment and looking at players, there will be change.
"I've always been involved, Ross (Wilson) worked more on the agent's side and I worked on the player's side.
"We are in an age with stats everywhere, but I want to sit with a player and see if they want to play for Rangers. You also want to clearly chat through their roles and what they can expect at the club. Relationships in football is massive.
"I'm really comfortable with where we are going, it is clear we want to get most of our work done early and get a strong pre-season. There will be some new faces in the first stage of pre-season, and there is then the second-phase of player trading as the window is open for a long time.
"Conversations with potential new players are important, with Cantwell and Raskin I was aware of their quality and was more about explaining their role in the team. They are both at the start of their Rangers career and have brought terrific energy to the group."
Meanwhile, Beale has provided a major Rangers contract update suggesting that Alfredo Morelos and Allan McGregor will not be at the club next season.
The Ibrox boss told Sky Sports ahead of Sunday’s trip to Aberdeen: “Last week everyone that played - barring maybe Alfredo and Allan - will be a Rangers player next season and it was as strong performance again with five goals. Since I’ve come back in I’ve tried to pick continuity and we’ve seen that a lot of the same players have played and the results in the main have been good with 19 wins in 22 games.
“I’ve been delighted with the application of the players and what I get to do in the summer is add my own stamp on the group a bit more. I always have a fingerprint on the group because I was here when a lot were recruited but I get to really put my stamp on it in the summer and I’m excited by that.”
On Ryan Kent’s future, Beale added: “There’s a moment to reveal what’s going to happen and as much as I’d like to tell you everything, I have to keep a bit back. Ryan’s personal stuff is in that as well. Every time he plays he gives me everything the’s got and we have a fantastic relationship going back 10 years so we’re on the same page.”
