1. 17 updates

Dundee replace Rangers in SPL

Dundee will be invited into the Clydesdale Bank Premier League season to replace Rangers, the SPL confirmed. The First Division runners-up were chosen ahead of relegated Dunfermline during the league's annual general meeting at Hampden today.

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Dundee to play next season in Scottish top flight

Dens park will now host the likes of Celtic and other SPL clubs. Credit: PA

The Scottish Premier League have confirmed that they have offered this season's last remaining place to Dundee. The Irn-Bru First Division runners-up were chosen ahead of relegated Dunfermline during the league's annual general meeting at Hampden.

Despite reports of a possible U-turn in recent days, SPL clubs agreed to work towards the decision made by Scottish Football League clubs to put Rangers in the Third Division.

An SPL statement read: "It was agreed that the SPL would work with the Scottish FA, SFL and Rangers to facilitate Rangers FC taking their place in SFL Division 3 this season."It was agreed that Dundee FC would be invited to fill the space vacated by Rangers FC in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League."

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McCoist presence unsettles SPL clubs

Ally McCoist arriving at Hampden park earlier today. Credit: PA

Ally McCoist's presence at the annual SPL meeting today has fuelled speculation that Rangers' Scottish League destiny did not end with last week's SFL vote.

Reports of a possible U-turn have been dismissed by Aberdeen, Dundee United, Hearts and Inverness since Friday's vote.

Rangers pair attend SPL annual meeting

Rangers newco chief executive Charles Green and manager Ally McCoist arrived at Hampden this morning ahead of the Scottish Premier League annual general meeting. The SPL clubs will also decide who is to replace Rangers as the 12th club in the league.

Green's bid to acquire Rangers' share in the competition was rejected by SPL clubs on July 4 and his club were subsequently voted into the fourth tier of Scottish Football.

Scottish Premier League to decide on Rangers replacement

The SPL will hold their annual meeting today with the main task of deciding who replaces Rangers as the 12th club in the division. The decision comes after the Ibrox team were demoted to the fourth tier of Scottish football.

Dundee play their home games at Dens Park Credit: PA

Favourites to replace Rangers are Dundee or Dunfermline. Dundee are in the running after narrowly missing out on promotion from the Scottish First Division last year, whilst Dunfermline are staking their claim on the basis that they were the last club in the league before being relegated last year.

Dunfermline will be hoping that it is East End Park that will host SPL fixtures next season Credit: PA

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Charles Green: 'We just want to get back playing football'

Following today's decision by the SPL to have Rangers playing in the Scottish 3rd Division from next season, Rangers Chief Executive Charles Green said:

We are grateful to be accepted as members of the SFL and accept their decision to vote us into Division 3.

It is a matter of regret for all of us involved with Rangers that the issues surrounding the Club resulted in the SFL and its members being placed in a very difficult position not of their own making.

From the outset, we made clear we would play where we were told to play and we just want to get back to playing football.

This decision maintains the sporting integrity that clubs and fans across Scotland have been calling for but it also impacts massively on Scottish football as a whole and only time will tell what the consequences will be.

McCoist: 'The SFL was placed in an impossible situation and I respect its decision'

Rangers manager Ally McCoist has responded to the news that Rangers has been demoted to the Scottish Division 3:

I fully accept the decision of the SFL today and thank them for allowing us into the SFL.

Clearly, starting again from the bottom league is not ideal and makes the task of rebuilding Rangers a longer one but the SFL was placed in an impossible situation and I respect its decision.

I fully supported the fans views that starting again in Division 3 maintains the sporting integrity that the SPL clubs were so keen on.

The SPL clubs and the SFA have made their positions clear over the last few weeks and it remains to be seen what the long term effects of their decisions will be.

Rangers has been severely punished for the actions of some individuals who previously ran the Club and it will take time for us to recover but we will come back stronger thanks to the loyalty of the fans and the commitment of everyone at Ibrox who are working tirelessly to bring stability and success back to Rangers.

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