RANGERS fans will continue to support the Ibrox club in huge numbers – even though they will not be playing in the SPL.

That was the defiant message from Gers supporters today after it emerged the club will lose its bid to get back into the top division.

Aberdeen, Inverness Caley Thistle and St Johnstone all confirmed yesterday that they will vote against Rangers newco getting into the league on July 4.

Dundee United, Hearts and Hibs had already declared they would give the thumbs down to the Glasgow outfit joining them in the 2012/13 campaign.

That means Rangers will be unable to achieve the 8-4 majority they need at a vote to be held at a meeting of the country's leading clubs at Hampden next month.

It is still unclear whether the Light Blues will have to start off in the Third Division or will just drop down to the First Division.

But Rangers Supporters' Trust board member Mark Dingwall is confident Ally McCoist's team will still receive the backing of their fans wherever they end up playing.

He said: "I think the attitude of most Rangers fans is that we will Follow Follow our club wherever it ends up, in the First Division or the Third Division."

Dingwall has also hit out at the decision by the SPL clubs not to allow Rangers newco automatic entry into the top flight next season.

And he has predicted tough times ahead for the nation's top teams without the Glasgow giants involved in their league.

He said: "Fans of all clubs have suffered for the misdemeanours of owners.

"It is sad to see there is very little recognition of that in the deliberations of the SPL clubs.

"They seem to be driven by the politics of envy and hatred rather than a genuine belief in sporting integrity.

"I think genuine football fans like to see relegation and promotion decided by what their team does on pitch rather than as the side affect of what happens off the park."

Dingwall added: "I think the actions of some clubs will leave a legacy of bitterness and sour Scottish football for decades to come.

"God forbid any of the clubs get into a predicament like Rangers have got into in the future because they will be judged by their behaviour in this instance.

"I include Celtic in this. No Scottish football club is financially safe in the medium to long term.

"Our view would be that you need to apply common sense at this time. There is no sense saying to a club: 'We want you to continue playing football, but we aren't going to let you sign players and we're going to make you promote kids who aren't up to the job'.

"I might be wrong, but I think the majority of Rangers fans would like the club to go down to the Third Division rather than the First Division if we have to go down. Then hell mend what is left behind. Let them deal with their self-created problems."

Dingwall added: "We will come back up and we will come back up stronger."

St Johnstone chairman Steve Brown admitted the Perth club could struggle without Rangers in the SPL – but insisted they were making the right choice for Scottish football.

A club statement read: "Any reduction in income will have a serious impact on this football club.

"But the board believes that sporting integrity should not be sacrificed in favour of economic expediency."

Meanwhile, Aberdeen chairman Stewart Milne confirmed: "It is our intention to oppose readmission to the SPL for any Rangers newco."

And Inverness chairman Kenny Cameron said: "We have listened to all our customers and taken the decision and we now look forward to their support going forward."