Rangers ousted from Scottish Premier League

LONDON: Former champions Rangers were ejected from the Scottish Premier League (SPL) yesterday when rival teams voted to exclude the Glasgow club following its financial crisis.
The vote breaks the stranglehold on the Scottish game long exercised by Rangers along wth bitter “Old Firm” rivals Celtic. It also risks hurting other SPL teams financially.
Rangers chief executive Charles Green said the club, champions a record 54 times, would apply for a place in the Scottish Football League (SFL) which oversees the lower tiers of the game.
“If our application were to be accepted, Rangers will play in whichever division the SFL sees fit and we will move forward from there,” said Green, who leads a consortium that took over the club last month.
It is not clear whether Rangers will have to relaunch from the lowly fourth tier of the Scottish game or will get a place in the first division, just below the SPL. That is likely to be decided in a vote on July 12.
“The Club hopes that the supporters, who have been absolutely tremendous since the Club went into administration on February 14, will continue to support the Club and make Rangers a success once again,” added Green.
Rangers have attendances in excess of 45,000 at their Ibrox stadium, making them one of the best supported teams in the British game.
However, they have been losing their top players. Striker Steven Naismith joined English Premier League club Everton this week after he rejected a deal with the new Rangers owners.