Rangers urge fans to ignore 'recent ill-considered' claims that they are a new club

It comes after Dundee captain Gary Harkins taunted Rangers in the pre-match build-up by branding the Ibrox outfit a new club, reigniting the debate over its status after the liquidation in 2012.

Rangers say the warning comes after "ill-considered comments made by journalists and players", and downplayed any link to the Dundee midfielder.

Read more: Dundee boss backs Gary Harkins for warm Ibrox welcome after 'new club' comments

Harkins quipped he had never faced Dundee’s potential opponents in the last eight as it is not the same side.

Harkins, who was a schoolboy player with Rangers age-old rivals Celtic said: "They’re just a new club. I’ve not played them before, so I’m looking forward to that. It should be good."

In November, Harkins' teammate Darren O'Dea, the ex-Celtic defender, had called last year for the club to be stripped of titles if it lost the so-called Big Tax Case, over the use Employee Benefit Trusts (EBTs) from 2001 until 2010 to make payments to players.

Rangers said: "Clearly it rankles with some that we, Rangers, are still here with our history intact and the best way to protect this proud heritage is to ignore our detractors. Do not react to them and give others cause to criticise our behaviour.

"Fans who behave in an inappropriate manner and who bring the club into disrepute will face punishment. They might be given lifetime or limited bans so please, let us all support Rangers in the correct way.

"Let’s Follow With Pride and treat the ill-informed with the silent contempt they deserve."

A Rangers spokesman said that there had been a "significant number" of lifetime bans in the past for inappropriate behaviour, including sectarian behaviour.

"We are asking Rangers fans to behave the way they normally behave, the vast majority of the time. Don't give anyone any reason to attack the club," he said.

Rangers also dismissed jibes that it is a new club indicating that those who don't accept that "cannot accept reality or legal judgment".

In December, Rangers condemned fans who took part in "inappropriate singing" during a victory over Hibernian. Describing them as a minority, the Ibrox club have vowed to assist Police Scotland in identifying the culprits.

The Follow With Pride campaign was launched in 2007 ahead of tough new sanctions announced by the Scottish Premier League aimed at tackling "unacceptable behaviour" including sectarianism and racism.

Rangers added: "We are all part of the one Rangers family and each one of us has a role to play in promoting Rangers as a modern, balanced and fair club. It is important all fans believe they are ambassadors for their club and it is their duty to help protect and enhance Rangers’ reputation.

"Celebrate the club, its unbroken timeline, honours and achievements but do not sing any inappropriate songs.

"Gestures and chants which are deemed offensive should also be avoided no matter the level of provocation and while it is important to be aware Police Scotland, the SFA (Scottish Football Association) and SPFL (Scottish Professional Football League) can take action, remember also that this club enforces its own code of conduct."

Those Celtic fans who feel Rangers are a new club, have objected to any commentary that indicates that if successful in getting promotion from the Scottish Championship, that they will "return" to the top flight.

A group of Celtic fans caused controversy when they paid for an advert in a newspaper last year saying Rangers are a new club.

The advert was a lengthy statement which claims Rangers became a new club following liquidation in 2012.

Many diehards will only refer to Rangers as Sevco, the name given to the Charles Green-headed consortium that bought the liquidated assets with a £5.5 million loan in 2012.

In December, 2014, SPFL chief executive Neil Doncaster insisted Rangers are the same club which existed before liquidation.

He referenced the SPL commission headed by former Supreme Courts of Scotland judge Lord Nimmo Smith which said the club was a "continuing entity" now owned by a new company, Rangers International Football Club.

The Advertising Standards Authority in December, 2013, in considering challenges to Rangers' claims as "Scotland's most successful club", supported the view that continuity of history continued.

UEFA, the governing body of football in Europe had confirmed to the ASA that its rules allowed for the recognition of the "sporting continuity" of a club's match record, even if that club's corporate structure had changed.

The subsequent liquidation led to a decision to admit Rangers to the Third Division.