Rangers newco: Ian Black move to Ibrox depends on division

Published on 04/07/2012 19:28

FORMER Hearts midfielder Ian Black has reached an agreement to join Rangers – as long as the newco are not condemned to the Third Division.

The fallen Ibrox club were today voted out of the SPL but it remains to be seen which tier they will be playing in with SFL clubs now set to decide Rangers’ fate. Black has shaken hands on a move to join Ally McCoist’s side but it is understood that arrangement will become void if Rangers are forced to start any lower than the First Division.

Black was linked with Rangers earlier this summer prior to the Govan club being liquidated and he admitted then that a switch along the M8 appealed to him. He said: “It is flattering to be linked with Rangers. If they’re keen, I would love to sit down and listen to what they have to say.”

Rangers owner Charles Green’s new company is in the process of applying for SFA membership and as yet still can’t formally register any players. Following arguably his best season, that culminated in Scottish Cup success with Hearts, Black was released by the club due to cut-backs. English Championship outfit Sheffield Wednesday have expressed an interest in the former Inverness playmaker, while Owen Coyle’s Bolton were also linked with Black.