Peterhead chairman insists new Rangers must start life in Third Division

The chairman of Peterhead FC believes that the newly-liquidated Rangers would help themselves in the long term if they accepted demotion to the SFL's bottom rung next season.

Although, Blue Toon chair Rodger Morrison concedes that narrow self-interest might still ensure their survival in the top flight.

Morrison told STV: "I think Rangers should do the honourable thing and go down to the Third Division. I'm sure that, from Rangers' perspective, they will reorganise, rise, and get back to the SPL and be stronger in the end.

"I think, from a fans' viewpoint, it would be really exciting [if Rangers were in Division Three]. From a financial point of view, it would be really exciting. But, from a manager's point of view, I think this is where I struggle.

"We have obviously budgeted again for getting promotion and he [Jim McInally] will probably view it [Rangers' demotion] as spoiling his chances of winning promotion. But, just say, there was a play-off at the end of the season between Peterhead and Rangers: I think we would both be happy with that."

However, Morrison remains to be convinced that hard-pressed SPL officials will over-concern themselves with questions of sporting integrity when they eventually vote on the Ibrox club's future.

"I doubt it very much, because these are financially-straitened times, and loads of chairmen are under pressure, so it is an easy decision for them to disregard the fans. But they might do so at their peril," said Morrison.

"Obviously, if we ever draw Rangers or Celtic in a Cup game, you know the demand for tickets and seats will be big, so there is a general excitement among fans. And [tackling Rangers] would really motivate our own players, who just love playing against higher-placed clubs. And I'm sure that every [Third Division] club would welcome Rangers."

Whatever transpires, Morrison had a short, sharp retort to the question of whether the SPL would survive without Rangers. "Life always goes on. Look what happened to RBS. Life goes on."

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