MADJID BOUGHERRA today insisted he won't quit Rangers with the first chance he has to return to England.

The Ibrox defender was linked with a move to several Premiership sides throughout the January transfer window.

As one of the top performers in Walter Smith's table-toppers, Bougherra is likely to be the subject of similar interest again in the summer. But he has made it clear he is desperate to remain at Ibrox.

Rangers supporters were left upset when star player Carlos Cuellar used his one-year spell at the club to engineer a move to Aston Villa, but Boogie has eased their fears he may hope to do the same.

He said: "When you look back at it now, I think I've made some clever changes of club over the years as I've made gradual progress.

"I moved up from Gueugnon - a very small team - to Crewe, then went from there to Sheffield Wednesday and Charlton. Now I am at Rangers, so if I was to move on again, it would have to be to a massive side because I'm already at one just now.

"What I don't want to do is the same thing as I did when I was at Wednesday. I really liked it there. It was just like Scotland in that respect, but I left after six months because I got the chance to play in the Premiership for the first team with Charlton.

"I had gone to England from Gueugnon and when you see the Premiership on TV back in France, you want to go there quickly. I was still young when I was in Sheffield and, having just turned 24, I made the wrong choice to move from there. I went too soon.

"Here at Rangers, I am really settled. The fans are fantastic and the staff are the same - they have made me feel so welcome and it is better to stay here.

"I have learned from my experience with Wednesday and now I know I should have stayed there longer. By the same token, I want to stay here longer because I am happy at Ibrox and there is no need for me to go.

"I might get more money at another club or play at a higher level but this is a big club and I'm very settled and content in Glasgow. Everything is perfect."

Bougherra, however, knows he will be left powerless if Rangers accept any bids for him in the summer.

Speaking in the Rangers News, he said: "Of course, you have to be honest and I don't know what the future holds for me because I know football is a business.

"If a club were to bid a big amount for me that Rangers couldn't turn down, I realise there is nothing I could do about that.

"I must make one thing clear though that I want to stay. I don't know what will happen in the months ahead but, in my heart, I want to be here."