Scottish Third Division beckons for newco Rangers
Published:Following a meeting at Hampden Park on Monday, Rangers newco’s position in the Scottish Third Division this season has been confirmed, with Dundee set to replace them in the Scottish Premier League.
With only Celtic now deemed to have a realistic chance of winning the SPL this season, that half of the Old Firm is afforded a 1/33 price to claim their second consecutive title this term.
Meanwhile, the idea of a U-turn from Rangers chiefs in terms of accepting their fate as a Third Division club was dispelled this morning, as chief executive Charles Green and manager Ally McCoist attended an annual general meeting at Hampden Park.
A statement from the SPL read, “It was agreed that the SPL would work with the Scottish FA, SFL and Rangers to facilitate Rangers FC taking their place in SFL Division 3 this season.
“It was agreed that Dundee FC would be invited to fill the space vacated by Rangers FC in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League.”
Plans to reinstate the newco Rangers into the SPL were rebuffed when ten of the division’s clubs rejected the proposal, whilst 25 SFL clubs were against the side entering the Scottish First Division.
The most controversial decision though, could be the promotion of Dundee, who finished second in last season’s Scottish Division One, ahead of Dunfermline, who were relegated from the SPL last term.
Indeed, Dunfermline are thought to be considering legal action against the SPL, feeling they have been denied a rightful passage back into the Scottish top flight.
Meanwhile, Rangers will be bolstered by news that several first-team players are prepared to remain with the club as they bid to return to the peak of Scottish football as quickly as possible.
Lee McCulloch, Lee Wallace, Kyle Hutton and Carlos Bocanegra are amongst those who have declared their intentions to stay, and a Third Division side featuring the likes of these players are sure to be near the head of the betting for that league this season.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.
