Charlie Nicholas has urged Michael Beale to challenge the Rangers board over the club's transfer strategy.

Gers will finish the season trophy-less following Sunday’s Scottish Cup semi-final defeat to Celtic at Hampden Park.

And the Light Blues fans were again left frustrated after coming up short against their Old Firm rivals and boss Beale admitted there will be “the biggest rebuild this club has seen in a number of years” come the summer.

The pressure is certainly mounting on Beale, but Nicholas has backed the Englishman.

He wrote in the Daily Express: "Rangers would be absolutely crazy to consider getting rid of Michael Beale, despite his third straight Old Firm derby loss ensuring their season will end trophyless. Beale knows what is required this summer to turn things around, but is he big enough and man enough to take on the Ibrox board?

"He needs their full backing if he is to have any chance of closing the gap on a Celtic side on course to clinch the treble. Beale needs to tell the board unequivocally what they need to deliver for Rangers to be successful. Unless that happens they will never get close to ending their rivals' dominance.

"The manager suggested on Sunday that around a dozen players could leave this summer. He probably needs another six of genuine quality. Steven Davis and Allan McGregor are done. Scott Arfield will be away, along with Ryan Kent and Alfredo Morelos.

"I have been saying for 18 months that they need a new goalkeeper and it seems like former England No.1 Jack Butland could be coming in.

"Rangers also need another centre-half but they have enough in midfield, even if they don't have great quality. Up front, they need two strikers with pace. I don't think Rangers need to spend a fortune in their summer rebuild.

"They could do it for about £10million if they clear the decks of their higher earners who are out of contract, such as Morelos and Kent. Celtic have shown with their recruitment under Ange Postecoglou that major progress can be made without splashing out massive fees.

"The difference between the Old Firm in last weekend's Scottish Cup semi-final was goalkeeping and finishing. Jota had a free header to score the only goal of the game after Rangers' players switched off expecting the ref to blow for a foul on Matt O'Riley, allowing Daizen Maeda to put in a cross from the right.

"If that delivery had gone into the Celtic box then Joe Hart would have made an attempt to get to the ball. Gers goalkeeper McGregor, however, remained static and Beale's side were left exposed again.

"James Tavernier is also culpable for failing to keep tabs on Jota, but the entire Gers defence fell asleep. I have been critical of McGregor all season, but it's Rangers' fault for renewing his contract for another year instead of replacing the 41-year-old.

"The situation is made worse for Rangers because they don't have forwards who can get them out of trouble at the other end of the field. Their main danger man on Sunday was Tavernier, and not for the first time.They can't keep relying on a right-back to bail them out."