Dunfermline Athletic chairman John Yorkston believes his team should be playing in the Scottish Premier League next season.

Six clubs have now publicly stated they will vote against Charles Green’s application to admit a newco Rangers to play in Scotland’s top flight.

Aberdeen, St Johnstone and Inverness Caledonian Thistle added their voices to Hibernian, Dundee United and Hearts vowing they would vote no.

With a place in the league appearing up for grabs, last year’s bottom placed team Dunfermline have indicated their belief that they should be reinstated.

Speaking to BBC Scotland, John Yorkston said: "We fully expect to be the team in the SPL next season.

"We have taken legal advice on the matter and on the basis of that we would expect to be reinstated."

The SPL have so far failed to clarify what will happen when Rangers' member share is returned to them. Rule H5 states the league would go ahead with 11 teams, meaning no relegation in the 2012/13 season.

On Tuesday afternoon, Dunfermline issued a statement clarifying their position. The club has stated that it will consider the views of fans with respect to any vote it has on the future of newco Rangers.

It also stressed that it will fight any changes to the league structure that it feels goes against Dunfermline's best interests.

"The Board refuse at this stage to speculate on conjecture, but what we can say is that we are fully aware of the views of Pars fans in terms of sporting integrity, and any decision the Board may make on behalf of the Football Club in future will respect this, as no one wishes to alienate our own loyal supporters," a spokesperson said.

"We would also reassure our supporters that the Board intends to robustly defend the Club's position if any structural change disadvantages DAFC, as has been speculated.

"Nonetheless to totally ensure the engagement of all our fans, across all different age groups and categories, the Club will ask for their feedback via our official website on the subjects of "Newco" and regaining SPL membership."

Dundee, who finished second in last season's First Division, have also expressed an interest in being promoted. A decision is expected to be made by the SPL after the formal vote on newco Rangers on July 4.

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