Reconstruction: Rangers defend rebel pair

RANGERS claim St Mirren and Ross County should not be singled out for criticism over their refusal to back Scottish Premier League plans for league reconstruction.

The two clubs vetoed the proposals at an SPL meeting at Hampden yesterday, with a majority of 11-1 required to send the plans to the Scottish Football League. Rangers, as associate members of the SFL, would not have been entitled to vote on the issue but have made their stance on reconstruction clear.

Ibrox chief executive Charles Green has previously proposed an alternative 14-14-14 structure. Rangers were opposed to the 12-12-18 format which, if introduced for next season, would have seen the Irn-Bru Third Division champions remain in Scotland’s bottom tier.

A club spokesperson said: “We note the outcome of today’s SPL vote on league reconstruction. Rangers have already openly talked about what we believe were constructive proposals and hope that these will be considered at some point in the future. The vast majority of supporters did not want 12-12-18 and the two clubs who voted against this should not be singled out for criticism.

“They stood up for what they and their fans believe.”