SPL block on Daniel Cousin leaves Rangers relying on Lee McCulloch

DANIEL COUSIN has been barred from rejoining Rangers by the SPL after they ruled his signing was made in breach of the transfer embargo imposed on the Ibrox club following their move into administration.

The Gabon international striker arrived in Scotland last weekend and his recruitment as a free agent was announced by Rangers on Monday, the day before the club’s insolvency event. Rangers manager Ally McCoist had still hoped Cousin could be registered and included him in his squad for today’s match against Kilmarnock at Ibrox. But the SPL board last night declared Cousin’s contract was invalid.

“The SPL was, at 3.26pm today, presented with a contract between Daniel Cousin and Rangers FC dated 17 February 2012, signed by the player and by Paul Clark, the joint administrator of The Rangers Football Club plc (in administration),” read an SPL statement.

“In terms of SPL Rule A6.20, the consent of the board of the SPL was required for the registration of the player with the SPL. The board of the SPL declined to give that consent. Accordingly the player is not registered with the SPL and is not eligible to play in SPL matches. Rangers FC have the right to appeal this decision to the Judicial Panel of the Scottish FA.”

It leaves McCoist to rely on makeshift striker Lee McCulloch once more as he awaits the return of Kyle Lafferty from injury. Despite dropping 14 points behind Celtic following the SPL’s ten-point deduction for administration, McCoist insists success on the pitch remains important for his team.

“We have not lost the championship yet, although it is now a secondary priority for the club,” he said. “But I would never trivialise any game or result for Rangers because we have to do our best for the fans. We need three points.”

Lee Johnson will make his debut for Kilmarnock, the 30-year-old midfielder having signed as a free agent last week following his release by Bristol City. He returns to Scottish football six years after his brief but eventful spell at Hearts under Graham Rix’s management.

“I loved my time up here before,” he said. “It was a bit crazy at Hearts and still is. I wouldn’t have changed it for the world though. I know people are saying there are problems in Scottish football but my footballing instincts brought me back.

“It’s going to be exciting at Ibrox. It will be like going into the gladiators’ arena for us. It could galvanise Rangers and work for them, but we don’t want to be a sideshow so we have to stand up and be counted.

“I’ve never played against a club that’s just gone into administration, so I don’t know what to expect. All I can do is put myself in their shoes and think what it would be like if I was a player there.

“There is a lot happening to the club and there could be two feelings. They could think ‘Sod it, I’m going anyway’, or they’re going to be really passionate and fight for the fans and the club. They might think ‘Well, I’m still going to be a legend for this club’. I think it will be the latter.”

Dieter van Tornhout is suspended for Kilmarnock today. The Belgian striker was sent off against Hearts last week in his first start for the Ayrshire club.

Midfielder David Silva returns from the illness which kept him out of the 1-1 draw against the Edinburgh side at Rugby Park.