NICKY LAW today expressed hope the change of regime at Rangers will bring an end to the "mayhem" that has impacted on their bid to clinch an SPFL Premiership place.

And the midfielder has predicted the Ibrox club can avoid the "nightmare" scenario of a second season in the Championship - by winning promotion via the play-offs.

Law admitted off-field events at the Glasgow giants - the departure of manager Ally McCoist especially - have been difficult for the players to deal with.

The League One champions are currently languishing in third place in the second tier table and few of their fans give them a chance of going up at the end of the 2014/15 campaign.

He said: "Most people probably thought Rangers would take first and go straight up. But I think with the two teams that came down last year it was always going to be difficult this year.

"But nobody expected it to be as difficult as it has been. With everything that has gone on, particularly in the last four or five months, it has been mayhem.

"There's something new every day. You have to try and get used to it and try to do the best you can, which we are doing.

"Most difficult for us has been the managerial side of it. Losing our manager and the situation with the manager at the minute - we don't know how long he'll be here for - has been hard.

"That's affected us more rather than the upstairs situation because there's nothing we can do about that. Losing a manager is tough for everyone.

"And the manner that he went when we thought he'd still be here and then next thing he's gone and then Kenny came in. It's been strange and difficult at times."

Law added: "With all that going on, we have kind of fallen away from Hearts. It has been a difficult season for us, absolutely.

"But there is still a lot to play for, hopefully the play-offs. It is our best way of going up this season. We know as a team it's the minimum requirement that we do go up this season.

"Staying in the Championship is the nightmare scenario obviously for everyone.

"It is going to be difficult again next year when you look at two of the four teams that could come down out of the top league. It will be another tough league next year if you are in it."

Crowds have plummeted at Ibrox this season as Rangers fans have shown their deep unhappiness at how their club was being run by staying away from games.

Season ticket sales last summer were significantly down on the previous year and attendances in league games fell below 20,000 for the first time in nearly 30 years.

But supporters are being tipped to return to games in their tens of thousands when a new board is installed - starting with the Championship meeting with Queen of the South on Tuesday night.

And Law, who has netted 10 goals for the Light Blues in all competitions this term, is optimistic a stark increase in their backing will help them in matches.

He said: "We're obviously hoping there's going to be a positive reaction for everyone at the club, not just for us.

"It will maybe bring the fans back onside too because there has been a clear divide between everyone at the club from the top to the fans to the team, it's been difficult.

"But hopefully if it is all sorted out before the weekend it will look a bit more positive and you'll certainly see the fans back and they can get behind us in what will be an important two or three months for the club.

"It's been doom and gloom for the past two or three months and the way we've been playing and the results have certainly not helped things. But hopefully the positive reaction will make its way back through to the team."

Caretaker manager Kenny McDowall could take charge of his last Rangers game against Cowdenbeath in the rearranged Championship game at Central Park tomorrow.

Law, who has worked with "Koj" for the last two years since joining the Gers from Motherwell, is keen to send him off with a victory if he is to move on.

The 26-year-old also wants his side to go on an extended winning run between now and their final league fixture so they can enter the play-offs with confidence.

He said: "Everyone knows the service Kenny has given to the club. It's been fantastic, eight years he's been here now, and he's won a lot of trophies under two different managers in that time.

"Last season and this season, Kenny has been brilliant working under the old manager, and he has huge respect from everyone.

"The least we could do is, if it is to be his last game, would be to send him out with a win."

Law continued: "Since we lost the manager our form has been really patchy. It's not been good enough.

"But at times this season we've played well and been on long unbeaten runs. So we know we can do it. It's just that the consistency hasn't been there.

"Now there are around a dozen games to go and the key is the next couple of weeks when we have five league games. After that we'll have played the same as the other teams and we'll see where we are then."