Smith says Allan McGregor still in his plans despite assault allegation

Strathclyde Police have confirmed they are investigating the claim, which goalkeeper McGregor has branded "a vile lie".

The 27-year-old has not been arrested and manager Walter Smith revealed yesterday that he has no intention of leaving the player out of today's Clydesdale Bank Premier League game at Hamilton.

"He will still be in the plan," said Smith, who was confident McGregor is in the right frame of mind to play despite recent events.

He added: "You'd need to ask to ask him how he's feeling. It's very difficult for any of us to comment on the situation as we don't know the full aspect. He will be involved in the team and we will leave it at that."

Smith was happier to discuss football matters when he spoke at the club's regular Friday press briefing yesterday, and attempted to provide clarity when asked about striker Kris Boyd's contract talks.

The Ibrox manager stressed that the player's new contract offer is still subject to final approval even if Boyd agrees to remain at Rangers – but cautioned this does not necessarily mean the deal will be scuppered as a result of Lloyd Banking Group's involvement in the club's finances.

Smith said: "It's not been ratified by Kris yet – that's the main thing. The other aspect of it (authorisation from the club's bankers] doesn't come into play until that happens.

"Martin Bain (chief executive] is more involved with the people who are running the club at the present moment than I am.

"I just know that he has to sit down and try to ascertain what level of money each of the players we are negotiating with at the present moment want. Then, in all probability, we would have to go back and see if that ties in.

"The situation is that we have a budget that we have to stay within. It's a complicated aspect at the present moment and it's not quite as black and white as saying if Kris Boyd, or anyone else, accepts a contract, that we have to go and get that ratified and they can turn it down.

"Offers have been made with a view to re-signing players. We have the capability of doing that.

"We have to go through procedures now that we didn't normally have to go through before, but that does not necessarily mean that we will not be able to re-sign the players."

Boyd is recovering from a hernia operation he underwent in Manchester earlier in the week, hence the delay in his decision on whether to accept the offer on the table from Rangers.

Smith said: "With Kris being in hospital for a couple of days during the week, any decision has been put back a little bit. Today was his first day back in with us, so I would hope we would hear from him shortly."

Rangers are also in the process of negotiating new deals with Kirk Broadfoot and Nacho Novo, and Smith added: "The situations with Kirk and Nacho are fine. We spoke to their agents and, again, we await their decisions on that."

With Boyd out of action for several weeks and Kenny Miller suspended this weekend, Rangers will be without their prolific strike partnership for their Clydesdale Bank Premier League game at Hamilton.

Smith admitted: "When you look back to December and see how they were both playing, we will miss them.

"But it's an opportunity for others in the striking department to come in and get a game. Kenny is only going to miss the one match so he will be back for Tuesday's cup-tie.

"Kris has not missed a lot of matches through injury so this is the first time that others will have an opportunity to show that they can come in."

Smith is expecting Kyle Lafferty, in particular, to make the most of Boyd's absence, with the Northern Ireland international having had little scope to play in his preferred position of centre-forward since his arrival at Rangers.