CRAIG Moore's desire to represent Australia at the Olympic Games has cost him his cap-taincy and his future at Ibrox. It might also have indirectly presented Alex Rae with an unexpected bonus on his return to his boyhood heroes.

While Rangers announced that the Australian was available for transfer, 35-year-old Rae was yesterday used to promote the club's pre-season friendly with Tottenham Hotspur at Ibrox later this month. It could well be the first of many public engagements in which he participates.

Rae has all the qualities demanded by McLeish of his new-look team when he issued a rallying call only 24 hours earlier. His charges lacked determination, character and passion for much of last season, but the combative midfielder has all three in abundance.

Rae is excited by the prospect of driving Rangers on to glory, but would not be drawn on the likelihood of inheriting the captaincy. ''It is pie in the sky at the moment, and until the manager makes an announcement, I won't know,'' he said diplomatically on his first official duty in his second spell at the club.

The identity of the new Rangers captain will be revealed shortly, because McLeish believes there is little time to deliberate with important games to be played soon.

He may have restructured his squad after a dismal campaign last season, with six new arrivals and eight departures at the last count, but there is a shortage of natural-born leaders at the club.

There are, in fact, only three players worthy of serious consideration for the role. Stefan Klos, who will become the club's longest servant when Moore departs, has already been handed the armband, but his introverted nature, coupled with the disadvantage of being a goalkeeper, could count against him.

Jean-Alain Boumsong is reported to be a commanding figure from his time in France, but he has yet to prove himself equipped for the rigours of the Scottish game and, despite signing a lengthy contract, has stated an intention of moving to the Premiership at the earliest available opportunity.

Rae, even at 35, would be the overwhelming choice of the supporters and, based on yesterday's evidence, there is no questioning his enthusiasm. Looking lean and fit, Rae sought to remove any doubt that age would prevent him from making a telling impact as the club attempts to restore some silverware to the trophy room. He has retained the family home in the Midlands because he fully intends to continue his career long after his two-year contract at Ibrox expires.

With Stuart McCall still treading the boards at 40 at Sheffield United, and Gary McAllister winning the UEFA Cup as Liverpool captain at a more advanced age than Rae, there is no shortage of inspirational figures. ''If I continue from where I left off last season, I will be happy,'' he said.

Claiming that Rangers had ''changed beyond recognition'' since he left the club in the late 1980s, Rae said some kitchen staff who worked at Ibrox during his earlier spell at the club were still there, so he did not feel that old. ''I bring experience, I have been around the block,'' he added.

Wolves, his former club, may have been relegated, but Rae earned rave reviews, and more than his share of cautions, in a dynamic midfield partnership with Paul Ince.

Bizarrely he credits Tony Gubba, the BBC reporter, for making the move possible, after an interview in which he frequently made reference to Rangers and his long-held desire to return to Ibrox before the end of his career. McLeish was said to have been sufficiently intrigued by the news received from the comfort of his sofa to investigate the possibility and, having received positive reports, identified him as the surprise replacement for the somewhat fragile Spanish playmaker, Mikel Arteta, who has left for Real Sociedad.

''I do not think this would have been possible without Tony Gubba,'' said Rae. ''I am indebted to him, and I suppose I owe him an interview.''

Jousting with Neil Lennon in Old Firm derbies is one of many mouth-watering pros-pects, but Rae was keen to play down the eagerly-anticipated duel. ''I've played against him several times in England, but I don't think it will be a head-to-head between us. He is a good player in a fantastic team, but we have to upstage them.''

Already he is talking McLeish's language.

lTickets for Rangers v Tottenham, at Ibrox, on Wednesday July 28, are priced (pounds) 17 for adults and (pounds) 9 for concessions, and are available from the Rangers Ticket Centre on 0870 600 1993.

lCrystal Palace yesterday signed Australian midfielder Tim Cahill, in whom Rangers were reported to be interested, from Millwall for (pounds) 2m.