Rangers’ financial problems may affect title race, says McPherson

DAVE McPherson says ongoing fears over off-field issues at Ibrox should make it impossible for anyone at Rangers to get too carried away with the ten-point gap between themselves and their Old Firm rivals.

Stating that the players and management team had done well to shove the uncertainty to the back of their minds until now, the former Ibrox defender is worried that the situation could eventually play its part in allowing Celtic to peg back the deficit. Or even worse.

“Rangers have done remarkably well to be in the position they are in with all that hanging over their heads. It is a bit of a worry and could tell on them over the season if it doesn’t get sorted out sooner rather than later,” he said.

“Everybody is uncertain about what is going to happen. I was speaking to an accountant the other day and he showed me an article and he is convinced Rangers are going to have to pay the bill [to HMRC]. It could be £20 million or £30 million and to have that hanging over your head can’t be very pleasant.”

One fear is that a massive bill could shunt the club into administration, resulting in docked points and even more uncertainty. “That would be a worry but it wouldn’t just be a worry for Rangers but also for Scottish football. If you have clubs like Rangers financially struggling then that could also have a domino effect. It is a concern for all of Scottish football. Rangers will never die, there will always be a Rangers but I’m concerned about the financial situation.”

The cloud cast by the long-standing saga with HM Revenue and Customs wasn’t able to take the shine off the way the team performed on the pitch over the past couple of seasons and while Walter Smith has handed over the reins to Ally McCoist, his former team-mate believes that he will have learned from his predecessor. But he does worry that outside pressures will eventually undermine the league form, even if the club does escape a debilitating bill and a points deduction.

Which means Rangers have to keep on winning while they can, starting again on Sunday, against Hearts at Tynecastle. “Any game you play as a Rangers player or manager is a big game, it doesn’t matter who you play against, because you are expected to win them all. It was really disappointing with the way they lost the late goal against St Mirren. But Rangers always bounce back and I’m sure they will be able to bounce back against Hearts.”

And, while some consider Celtic a weakened force this term, McPherson warns against complacency, saying there is still very little between the teams, and so many points and so many imponderables still to come into play.

“I wouldn’t see there is a massive gulf [between them]. Rangers are points ahead but it is closer than the league table suggests. I don’t think Rangers will win the league by 20 or 30 points. I think it will be a lot closer and Celtic will pick up.”