Rangers set for SPL rejection - Inside World Football

By Andrew Warshaw

June 26 – Restructured Scottish giants Rangers look certain to start life in the lower leagues after six Scottish Premier League (SPL) clubs said they would vote against the 54-time domestic champions being allowed entry into the top flight.

Rangers lost their SPL status when the club was recently consigned to liquidation because of massive debts.

Sheffield United supremo Charles Green (pictured above), who has taken over, hoped to re-launch the club in its new guise in the SPL, provided the majority of the 11 other clubs agreed.

But it has now emerged that when they meet on July 4, at least six – Inverness, Aberdeen, St Johnstone, Dundee United, Hearts and Hibernian – will vote against despite what could be a serious impact on their finances.

The main question facing Green now is whether he can secure a deal for Rangers to start again in the first division or whether they will have to resume two tiers further back.

Aberdeen chairman Stewart Milne (pictured above) said: “I can confirm it is our intention to oppose readmission to the SPL for any Rangers newco.

“If readmission were to be refused, we believe the appropriate course of action would be for Rangers newco to apply for membership to the SFA and to submit an application for admission to the SFL.”

A statement from the board of St Johnstone said that despite the obvious financial implications of being unable to cash in on gate receipts with Rangers out of the picture, sporting integrity “should not be sacrificed in favour of economic expediency”.

“It is important that a clear and unambiguous message goes out from the custodians of Scottish football that this sort of scenario should never be allowed to happen again.”

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