DUNDEE WILL TAKE the place of Rangers in the Scottish Premier League (SPL) next season, it was announced on Monday.
The SPL also appeared to rule out the creation of an ‘SPL2′ by saying they would work with other Scottish football authorities to “facilitate” Rangers playing in the Third Division, the fourth tier of Scottish football.
Prior to Monday’s announcement, a space had been left vacant in the SPL fixture schedule for “Club 12″.
Glasgow giants Rangers were expelled from the top-flight after the end of last season following months of financial problems that saw the 140-year-old club enter administration.
And on Friday they were dropped into the Third Division of the Scottish Football League.
Following an SPL meeting Monday, a statement said: “It was agreed that Dundee FC would be invited to fill the space vacated by Rangers FC in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League.”
Dundee, runners-up in the First Division, were competing with Dunfermline, relegated from the SPL last season, for a place in next term’s top flight.
Rangers, the most successful club in Scottish football history, had to form a new company or ‘newco’ after entering administration.
Friday saw 25 out of 30 Scottish Football League (SFL) vote for Rangers to enter the Third Division, the standard punishment in such cases.
Before the vote, Scottish Football Association chief executive Stewart Regan had said that demoting Rangers to the Third Division would cause financial catastrophe and a “slow, lingering death” of the Scottish game.
Regan had reportedly wanted Rangers demoted to the First Division only.
And despite Friday’s vote, there remained a suspicion a way would be found to avoid Rangers playing in the Third Division, amid talk of the creation of an ‘SPL2′.
However, the SPL statement issued Monday also said: “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.”
