PA PhotosCharles Green has proved more trouble than good for Rangers

In more ways than one Rangers are lining up against the SPL in the coming weeks, months and maybe years ahead. On Wednesday night the Light Blues will be playing against SPL side Inverness Caledonian Thistle in the League Cup, while in the media, Rangers' CEO Charles Green has been telling a UK audience that Rangers are not about to 'forgive and forget' how the club was treated by the SPL over money disputes and proposed title-stripping.

Speaking to talkSPORT he said, "The chief executive of the SFA, Stewart Regan, has said there will have to be some restructuring in Scottish football. It's no secret the SPL have been working on a plan and I understand the Football League have got their vision for change in Scottish football. It has to change because it's in a mess.

"It's really difficult for me to take seriously the SPL re-structure. They threw us out of the league and are now pursuing title stripping, and for us to sit down and think that after all that has come to fruition that I will say 'OK, everything's forgotten', you're in cloud cuckoo land. I don't forgive and forget.

"While I'm chief executive, Rangers will not play in the Scottish Premier League. [If that situation arose], I would go out to the fans, as we did earlier in the year, when they were consulted as to what division they wanted to play in. They wanted to play in the Third Division and we as investors listened to them and were happy to do that.

"And we would go back to them again. But my position wouldn't have changed. If they wanted to go back into the SPL, then fine. But I won't be chief executive."

As always with Green, there is more than a little hyperbole and drama, but whether he is playing to the gallery or really feels this way, is less important than the fact many fans agree that the club should not automatically return to the SPL in its current form.

When Graeme Barr, the vice-chairman of the Rangers Supporters Trust, was asked if he thought fans would support ever joining the SPL in its current format he replied, “Not at the moment no. The league is in tatters, it has no appeal or anything to offer Rangers.”

Of course there is a long way to go before we see the final result, but whether you love or hate the Rangers it would be foolish to underestimate the feeling among the supporters regarding the SPL and SFA.

The next time a major round of talks regarding long-term sponsorship comes around, the Light Blues won't be subject to the whims of the SPL chairmen and fanbase as they were in the summer.

Although the Gers lost out to the powerful 'no to newco' lobby, the fact Rangers fans are saying 'yes to buying a ticket' will be the over-riding factor in the future for those interested in putting money into the game.

On the playing side, Ally McCoist won’t be thinking about all this against his own SPL opponent Inverness Caley Thistle in the League Cup on Wednesday.

Although the Highland club and fans will be treated with the respect and friendship they deserve at Ibrox, there is no doubt that the Gers want to beat SPL teams, not only as they would in normal times, but for the reasons mentioned above.

In the last round against Motherwell the players and fans seemed to rise to the occasion. Not only did the team play with more intensity and desire, but the noise emanating from the stands was terrific.

Caley Thistle are a big step up from Clyde, but it’s doubtful the Rangers manager will make many changes from Sunday. Although the three main midfielders in Hutton, Black and McLeod didn’t quite work on Sunday, at least they will give Cribari and Perry some extra protection defensively.

Most of the game will depend on how Andy Little and Dean Shiels link up with Lee McCulloch. If they can play a better passing game, and keep the opposition on their toes with good movement, then Rangers have every chance. If they don't then they will lose.

In the last game against 'Well I expected the Lanarkshire outfit to come out on top mostly due to the weakness of the Gers central defence, but Cribari and Perry proved that prediction wrong by playing playing really well - yet that weakness is still there and is one that ICT can exploit.

On the other hand I also believe that if Rangers get going offensively they will be a match for the opposition, if not the superior attacking team.

This is a game with so many unknown variables that it would be foolish to predict a winner, so I will go ahead and do it anyway. There will be goals and Rangers will just sneak it.

Prediction: Rangers 3-2 Inverness Caley Thistle

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