RICHARD Gough has always been an interesting man, hefting a mindset to suit all occasions. His thoughts on the lifespan of the careers of footballers suggest Rangers will develop a solid base by signing David Weir and Ugo Ehiogu.

Together, they notch up some 70 years. Many will regard them as Dad's Army defenders, the older Weir, now 36, playing Corporal Jones to the 34-year-old Ehiogu's Captain Mainwaring and declaring the need to avoid panic as they are attacked by strikers yet to discover the relationship between shaving gel and a razor.

Gough reckons they will be more than capable of handling the challenges. Moreover, he is aware of the strategy employed by Walter Smith - a long-time collaborator - who he reckons has resorted to fundamentals in his restructuring of the club.

No-one is more qualified to analyse the football thinking of Smith than Gough, who was his captain at Rangers during the 1990s, returned briefly as a 10th successive SPL title was denied on the final day of the season, and concluded the partnership at Everton. Even at 39 he was regarded as one of the fittest and most accomplished central defenders in the Premiership.

Time was when media hacks attached the term "veteran" to any player over 30. It was as though they were the equivalent of old and once famous models of motor cars fit only for the race between London and Brighton.

But Gough regards such thinking to be ridiculous, pointing to his partnership with Weir at Everton and saying: "I think David had a look at me then and thought if he looked after himself he could have a long career."

No way could Gough ever be accused of cutting short a career that began as a raw teenager at Rangers and was developed by Jim McLean, assisted by Smith, at Dundee United before a transfer to Spurs where he was given the captaincy in his first season.

However, others have regretted decisions to call time. Billy McNeill was only in his early 30s when he elected to end his career to go into business, only to return as a manager at Clyde.

More famous times lay ahead at Aberdeen, Celtic (twice) and Manchester City but speak to him now and the playing of the game has a heavy priority in any conversation.

Despite a dodgy knee and the onset of arthritis - the result of some 15 years as a professional - McNeill could have squeezed at least another two seasons from his talents and experience and, in quiet moments, has often mused on a choice that may have been made too hurriedly.

Jim Baxter, a contemporary and a fellow legend, had disappeared from the game before he turned 30 although that decision was down to his maverick nature than any slaughter of his sublime gifts.

Others have succumbed to injuries that would have had serious consequences for their ability to walk in later life, the likes of Alan Hansen who, just turned 30, was told to bring down the curtain or face the potential of taking a walking stick for a stroll.

However, these guys operated in environments that cared little, if at all, for disciplined lifestyles off the pitch. More or less, their diets were identical to the working man and their bevvying hours were not too far distant, either. Physios were bag and sponge men and club doctors would look in for half an hour to write out prescriptions.

Gough enjoyed an entirely different upbringing, his maturing years in South Africa dedicated to sport and an emphasis on physical fitness. To this day he retains an attitude that declares the body to be the temple.

Weir and Ehiogu do not by any means represent the long-term future of Rangers but Smith believes they have the fitness levels of guys in their late 20s who played in the '60s and '70s.

Gough suspects they should have a couple of seasons apiece if they avoid injury, by which time Rangers should have consolidated and have started to witness the development of young players learning their trade at Murray Park.

Increasingly, the bleat of professional footballers - justifying outrageous wage demands on the basis they have short careers - might be exposed as the nonsense it is.

Anyone for 20 years in the game averaging, at a conservative estimate, £20,000-a-week? Nice work if you can get it, and it's now possible with a combination of fitness and focus.