Rangers newco to play first match

Jul 29 2012

Rangers newco will play their first competitive match later, just days after being granted a conditional Scottish Football Association (SFA) licence.

Thousands of fans are expected to travel to Angus in the north east of Scotland for the Glasgow club's first round Ramsdens Cup match with Brechin City.

The Ibrox side went into administration in February after Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC) lodged a petition over the non-payment of about £9 million PAYE and VAT since Craig Whyte's 2011 takeover.

It later emerged the club's liabilities could total as much as £135 million.

A CVA with creditors was later turned down by HMRC - consigning the club to liquidation.

A consortium led by Charles Green then completed the purchase of the business and assets of Rangers and reapplied to join the Scottish Premier League, but the member clubs voted not to allow it back into top flight football.

The newco then applied to the Scottish Football League, which runs divisions one to three, and the 30 member clubs voted it into the Third Division.

League matches start on August 11 but the season begins today with the Ramsdens Cup competition for first to third division clubs.

Brechin's Glebe Park is sold out and more than 4,000 fans will pack into the ground for the 3.05pm kick off.

Despite playing in the Second Division Brechin will be underdogs for the match. Pubs in the town hope to cash in on the historic match and the arrival of thousands of fans.