DJ: Why is it okay to hold a Scottish final at Parkhead but Ibrox is Ramsdens no-go?

There is every chance Celtic, who are the cup's defending champions, will be playing in it.

But, at the same time, we are told that Ramsdens Cup final cannot be held at Ibrox.

Why? Because Rangers are playing in it. That seems unusual to me.

I thought it would have made sense on many levels to hold the final against Raith Rovers at the Govan ground next April.

Raith could have had as many tickets as they wanted for their supporters. Rangers fans, meanwhile, would have snapped up all the other available briefs.

There would have been a full house of well over 40,000 for the match.

Financially, it would have been far, far better for the Kirkcaldy club.

I find it strange that in this day and age, when cash is king in football, that Raith have turned down the chance to bank another £100,000 or so.

I would have thought they would have gone for that option. But clearly they are not interested in the money.

They obviously feel it will increase their chances of winning by playing the game at a neutral venue.

And, to be fair, I can certainly understand their stance.

Grant Murray's side has been playing well and they deserve to be in the final. They clearly put glory ahead of their bank balance.

I think the SPFL have maybe looked at it and thought: "Rangers fans will not be keen to go to Celtic Park and give money to their greatest rivals."

The tournament organisers then had to say: "What are the other options? What is the next biggest stadium available?"

That is why they have gone for Easter Road. It is close to Kirkcaldy. It is about an hour from Glasgow.

But the capital venue will still not be big enough. Yes, it will be sold out. But many thousands of Rangers fans will still be left disappointed.

A lot of Light Blues supporters will not be able to see their heroes play in their first cup final in three years and that is highly unfortunate.

The Rangers players must realise - and I am sure Ally McCoist will have been telling them this - they have a chance to make history by winning the Ramsdens Cup.

Rangers are only going to be in the lower leagues for, in all likelihood, another season.

This, then, is probably one of two chances they have to win the competition.

So they could make their own little bit of history by winning the final and lifting the trophy. They could be the only Rangers players ever to do so.

I know that supporters of many other clubs in Scotland will be having a laugh at Rangers playing in the Ramsdens Cup final.

But look where the Glasgow club was 18 months ago. To have the chance to win a trophy, any trophy, highlights the progress that has been made.

Rangers booked their place in the final when they recorded a narrow 1-0 win over Stenhousemuir at Ochilview on Tuesday night.

I have heard a lot of people say it would have been a different story had Darren Smith had scored a sitter when the score was 0-0 in the second half.

But the game really should have been done and dusted long before that. Rangers had hit the woodwork twice and had forced a few fine saves from the opposition goalkeeper.

It is unreasonable to expect McCoist's men to score five or six goals every time they take to the field. And, in the end, they won the match.

Fair play to Stanhousemuir. They had been thrashed 8-0 at Ibrox in the league the last time they played Rangers. They set out to regain their pride and did so.

Rangers will have to play better in the final at Easter Road to overcome a team that is doing well in the SPFL Championship.

However, they will be helped by the fact the game will be played on grass.

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