THEY queued up to condemn Rangers to the bottom division of Scottish football when the Ibrox club's financial difficulties came to a head back in 2012.

And now? The SPFL Premiership clubs are desperately hoping the Glasgow giants complete The Journey and return to the top flight this season.

The leading teams in the country - not least Scottish champions Celtic - have missed the Glasgow giants in the last two-and-a-half years.

Attendances at many grounds in Scotland, including at Celtic Park, are badly down. Much-needed revenue from television and sponsorship has also plummeted.

The drama and passion of the Old Firm game, a derby match that is rightly renowned across the globe, has also been sorely missed.

So the desire to see Rangers pitted against Celtic when the League Cup semi-final draw is made this evening is no great surprise.

Certainly, Ally McCoist can appreciate why so many in our national game are hoping the two city clubs come out of the hat together.

"I can understand the interest in this game," he said. "Gone are the days of this: 'We don't need Rangers in the top flight.'

"Sadly, because it's too late, there is now a little bit of common sense being shown. It's clear we do need Rangers, as well as Hearts and Hibs, in the top flight.

"Gordon Strachan is doing a fantastic job for the national team, but in the best interests of Scottish football, we need our big clubs in the top flight.

"With Rangers being in the lower divisions, there was clearly going to be no scope for an Old Firm game unless we drew each other in the cup.

"The majority of people, if we do draw each other, can actively look forward to an Old Firm game and I, more than anyone, can appreciate that."

But the Rangers manager, whose side booked their place in the last four with a 1-0 win over St Johnstone at Ibrox on Tuesday, isn't expecting ­anybody to admit to making a mistake. He said: "Knowing the pig-headedness of some of the people involved, no, they won't.

"Let's be honest, was it for the greater good of Scottish football? Of course it wasn't. Absolutely it wasn't.

"But we are where we are and things have happened. There is no use in looking back the way because we can't change anything."

McCoist believes League Cup organisers would be able to sell an Old Firm match out many times over - even if it was staged in a 75,000-capacity stadium.

He said: "You had 15,000 at the Celtic game on Wednesday. You had 13,000 at our game on Tuesday night.

"But if Rangers play Celtic in the semi-final or the final you could play the game at the Maracana. In terms of the greater good of Scottish football, it would be a good thing. Everybody would look forward to the game. The irony is not lost on me."

McCoist added: "I've missed them and I think Scottish football has missed them.

"Contrary to what one or two people might have said at the time, it still was one of the biggest club matches in the world.

"You can talk about differences of quality, absolutely. But, in terms of atmosphere, it is certainly up there.

"I didn't miss them two years ago because I didn't really fancy playing Celtic or, indeed, any real top-flight club.

"I have great pals who are Celtic supporters. I've had boys coming up to me in the street and they are dying for you to get back, Celtic supporters, and Rangers supporters obviously, who miss the intensity and excitement of that Old Firm game and the chase for the title."

Rangers have played top-flight opposition on six occasions since they dropped down to the bottom tier of Scottish football two years ago - with varying degrees of success.

They beat Motherwell 2-0 in a League Cup third-round game at Ibrox in the 2012/13 campaign - only to get thrashed 3-0 by Inverness Caledonian Thistle in the quarter-final at home.

McCoist's makeshift side went on to lose 3-0 to Dundee United at Tannadice in the fifth round of the Scottish Cup later that term.

And last season the Light Blues made it all the way to the semi-finals of the Scottish Cup before losing 3-1 to United in a game played at Ibrox.

This season Rangers have overcome both Inverness Caledonian Thistle and St Johnstone by 1-0 scorelines at Ibrox in the League Cup.

And McCoist, whose side play their Championship rivals Dumbarton at the Bet Butler Stadium in the third round of the Scottish Cup this afternoon, is confident his charges can acquit themselves well whoever they get.

He said: "Last year we were better and competed reasonably well against Dundee United. This year, we feel we are slightly better again to handle the threat of a Celtic, an Aberdeen or a Dundee United.