RANGERS boss Ally McCoist could face a major selection headache in the opening weeks of the new season if plans for league reconstruction are voted through next week.

The Ibrox manager is currently in the process of building his squad for the Second Division campaign while working under a transfer embargo that was placed on the club by the sfa last year.

The Third Division champions had hoped to find a way round the red tape by fielding any new players as trialists in matches until September 1.

But those plans have been cast into doubt as the SPL and SFL attempt to broker a deal that would see the introduction of a single governing body in time for the start of the 2013/14 season.

Under rules drawn up for the Scottish Professional Football League – the body that would control our game if blueprints are passed by SFL clubs on June 12 – trialists would be forbidden in

matches across all four of our professional leagues or in League Cup fixtures. Rule 88 of the proposed rulebook states: "Trialists are not under any circumstances eligible to play for a club in a league match or League Cup match."

The rules state that trialists are eligible to play in "official matches" but then say: "For the purposes of this rule, official matches do not include league matches or League Cup matches."

If the trialists rule is brought into force for next season, Rangers would face a series of selection problems in their first four league fixtures and up to two League Cup ties, depending on their progress in the competition.

McCoist has already signed Cammy Bell, Nicky Law, Arnold Peralta, Nicky Clark and Jon Daly ahead of the big kick-off, while left-back Stevie Smith is also set to return to the club.

Under the current rules, the Gers boss could field two of his summer captures in any game, with each player eligible to play in up to three matches as a trialist.

If the new laws come into play, however, he will only be able to use them in Challenge Cup or Reserve fixtures.

And that would leave McCoist having to field a shadow side until the embargo is lifted on September 1, with all his new recruits forced to sit on the sidelines as the Ibrox boss goes with what he has at his disposal just now.