Rangers Can Forget About A Stroll In The Lower Leagues

Last updated : 31 July 2012 By Queens MAD

SPLlogoSFL chief executive David Longmuir last night told Rangers to forget about taking a three-year stroll through the lower leagues and to prepare themselves for the long haul.

Gers chairman Malcolm Murray suggested SPL clubs will soon be begging them to make a return to the top-flight and said: “I don’t think it will be as long as people say.”

But Longmuir is convinced the idea being floated that the Ibrox club could be fast-tracked back to the summit is fanciful and insists their SFL sabbatical could involve a prolonged stay.

After watching Ally McCoist’s side edge out Brechin during extra time in the Ramsdens Cup, the Hampden chief believes there’s plenty of hurdles coming their way.

He said: “They could be with us a lot longer than three years, judging by what I saw. They’ll need to make sure they’re up to the challenge our clubs are going to set them.

“On the park, it’s not just going to be a waltz through the leagues. You have to be realistic, they’ve a superb squad, even depleted as they are at the moment. It will be a great challenge for our clubs to see how they compete.”

Gers handed starts to youngsters Barrie McKay and Lewis McLeod at Glebe Park and Longmuir is adamant the lower leagues will a tough learning school for the Murray Park graduates.

He said: “Even the young boys I saw yesterday in the Rangers squad are going to find their feet quickly because they’re going to be up against seasoned pros who’ve been working their way through Scottish football from the bottom.

“The national team might benefit when we start unearthing young talent. Andrew Little played in the reserves and against seasoned pros, hardening them up and toughening them up and making them better players.

“I look forward to seeing Rangers develop as a new team through the three years they will be with us and the challenges that lie ahead for our own clubs in having such a big name involved in our leagues.”

Longmuir has been a shining light of authority and sense during a summer of off-field chaos and he’s confident Rangers will bring a positive element to the lower leagues.

He said: “If everything goes the way it went at Brechin, Rangers will be welcomed warmly both on and off the field, because Brechin gave a great account of themselves.

“I don’t think Rangers will have it as much their own way as they travel through our leagues as some people expect. It’ll be tough for our clubs to match them but for Brechin to go 120 minutes and narrowly miss out is excellent for them.

“The young Scottish talent we have in our league will be allowed to flourish and will be showcased by the interest there will be in our competition. We have some hidden gems in the SFL and having such a big brand in the league will give them the chance to flourish.”

Former SFA chief executive Gordon Smith, who left as director of football at Rangers earlier this summer, has sympathy with predecessor Stewart Regan and SPL supremo Neil Doncaster.

He said: “People will always criticise you if you’re in that position. I found that too, so it’s difficult to be critical because I don’t know what’s done in the background.

“A lot of times I used to see things being criticised when I was at the SFA but people didn’t realise what the full extent of it was, what your responsibility was, who was actually making the decisions.

“There’s tremendous pressures on them now because there’s a wind of change happening. We’ve seen one of our biggest, if not the biggest, club going down three divisions.

“There are a lot of issues to be seen and discussed about where Scottish football is and where it should be. That’s something which will be ongoing.”