ST JOHNSTONE are set to push Rangers closer to SPL oblivion today by confirming they will vote against the newco club being granted a place in our top flight next term.
The Perth club's chairman Steve Brown is expected to release a statement confirming his club will oppose plans that would see Gers admitted to the SPL just weeks after the Ibrox outfit was forced into liquidation.
Rangers need an 8-4 majority vote from top flight clubs to be given a place among Scotland's elite teams next term but, with Hearts, Dundee United and Hibs already confirming they will vote "no", and the Perth Saints now set to follow, that hope appears dead for chief executive Charles Green and his investors, with a move to the Irn-Bru First Division seemingly on the cards for the crisis club.
Motherwell have confirmed they will allow members of the Well Society to decide whether to vote yes or no, while Old Firm rivals Celtic have yet to make their position clear.
Even though the ballot seems certain to go against Rangers, the SPL will still meet on July 4 to vote on the newco application, although it appears that the Hampden gathering will be no more than a formality as clubs take on board an angry backlash from supporters across the country and get set to deprive Rangers a place in our top flight.
Hibs yesterday followed in the footsteps of United and Hearts by confirming they will vote against Rangers, with more clubs set to do likewise in the coming days.
A statement read: "Following a meeting of its Board of Directors, Hibernian FC confirmed that the Club will vote against the transfer of the Rangers share in the SPL to a newco at the General Meeting of SPL clubs on 4 July 2012
"This re-affirms the view of the Board that the sporting integrity of the SPL is of paramount importance.
"The Board is also acutely aware that in making this decision, Hibernian – like other clubs in the SPL – will suffer collateral financial damage at a time of severe economic hardship and uncertainty.
"The Board believes it is time for all fair minded supporters to get behind their clubs and to contribute in whatever way they can to the viability of the professional game in Scotland."