THE SCOTTISH PREMIER League today announced that Dundee were now officially members of the top flight, replacing troubled Glasgow giants Rangers.
“At eight minutes past 10 this morning, the member clubs unanimously approved the transfer of Rangers’ SPL share to Dundee Football Club,” a statement on the Scottish Premier league website said. ”Dundee FC is now a member of the SPL,” it added, confirming an invitation to the Dens Park club to join on 16 July.
Dundee finished second in the Scottish First Division last season, 24 points behind champions Ross County, and were selected to replace Rangers over Dunfermline, who propped up the SPL table. Rangers, Scottish football’s most successful club, went into liquidation earlier this year but attempts by new owners to join the SPL were rejected, consigning them to a fresh start in the third tier.
That means it will be at least three years until the Ibrox club are back in the top flight. Rangers’ fall from grace means there will be no Old Firm league fixtures against old rivals Celtic for the first time since 1890 and the prospect that the Premier League title could be won by another club for the first time in 27 years.
