Rangers crisis deepens as clubs in SFL reveal plans to oppose newco entry to Division One

Jun 27 2012 By Emma Smith

RANGERS hopes of entering the First Division could be at risk after Raith Rovers joined Falkirk in saying they would oppose any such move.

The troubled club are trying to secure a league to play in after it emerged their application to play in the Scottish Premier League will be rejected next Wednesday.

The news comes after it was revealed fraud squad officers were being ordered to investigate Craig Whyte’s takeover of Rangers.

The Crown Office’s decision comes five months after it was revealed that he funded the buyout with £27million of fans’ season ticket money and not his own cash.

The Scottish Football League will discuss the move of the club into the First Division, but Rovers have claimed they will “certainly not” vote in favour of Rangers’ application.

A merger between the SFL and Scottish Premier League, a one-off payment from the SPL and a promotion playoff from the First Division will also be discussed at the meeting.

But the fact that Rangers could take their place in the First Division rather than the Third Division is sparking criticism among some teams.

Rangers owner Charles Green wants to transfer their share in the SPL to the newco club.

But the support of eight of the 12 SPL clubs is needed for this to happen.

At the moment six SPL teams have already stated they will oppose the move.

If the board accepts Rangers’ proposal then all clubs could be called to vote on the final decision.

An emergency meeting could be called within five days and a vote on the newco entry would need 75 per cent majority – 22 clubs out of 29 - to go through.

But a statement released by Raith Rovers yesterday said that their board of directors would reject any attempt by a Rangers newco to enter the league.

And Falkirk also said that they would oppose the move.

Chairman Martin Richie said: "Under current rules, it would be totally unacceptable if a Rangers Newco was admitted to the First Division."