NACHO NOVO today told Rangers they must start making Old Firm victories count ... by winning titles.

The Spaniard was outstanding as Walter Smith's rampant side scalped Celtic 2-0 at Ibrox. Rangers have lost just one of the four Old Firm clashes this season - taking seven points from a possible 12 - but are still nine points adrift of the champions.

And Novo knows that getting it right against the rest of the SPL has to be the aim next season.

"We threw away too many silly points," admitted Novo. "It's great for the fans and the confidence of the team to beat Celtic after also going to Parkhead and winning a few weeks ago.

"But we need those kind of results to be helping us in terms of going after the title again. That is what we have to do."

Novo's future has again been the centre of discussion, with Zenit St Petersburg and other teams intimating an interest as he heads into the last year of his Rangers contract.

But the striker said: "I want to stay. It would break my heart to leave. I want to come back stronger and help this club fight for the title."

Novo was praised by Smith for his contribution since he took over from Paul Le Guen in January.

The striker seems certain to be an integral part of Smith's squad next season, which the manager will now set about rebuilding with a view to qualifying for the Champions League and mounting a serious bid for silverware.

But Smith conceded: "We have to be careful in what we're doing. We don't have pots of money. Rangers have been down that road before and were roundly criticised for putting the club into problems.

"I'm not going to go back and recreate the same problem. Hopefully, if we're careful and enjoy a wee bit of luck, or make a bit of luck, we will improve for next season.

"We have a lot to do and we don't have a great deal of time to do it - certainly, if you're going to make a few changes in your team, which hopefully we are.

"We have a situation where we have to get them together as quickly as possible.

"Looking at it, we don't have a big squad. We could add five, and not lose anybody, and that would be the correct size of squad."

Smith will sit down with chief executive Martin Bain and press ahead with signing plans after extensive scouting. He added: "It will be after the season ends when we go after who we want.

"Clubs don't want to enter into negotiations at this moment."

Rangers' preparations for next season will include six days at a training camp near Bielefeld in Germany, facing local opposition on July 13 and 15, before taking on Bundesliga side Hannover 96 on July 17 in the 50,000-capacity AWD Arena.