WALTER SMITH has had another swipe at the SPL after the Russian authorities cleared the decks for Zenit St Petersburg ahead of the Uefa Cup Final.

Dick Advocaat's side will not play again until the final against the Light Blues on May 14 after three of their league games were cancelled.

In contrast, the Ibrox men face two homes games against Motherwell on Wednesday and Dundee United next Saturday, before the trip to the City of Manchester Stadium.

The SPL season has been extended by four days to allow Rangers to get through a heavily-congested fixture list.

But Smith says that is not a favour, just a necessary decision as it was impossible to fit all of their games in.

Smith said: "The Russian FA made their intentions clear right from the start. But we've had a couple of days since we reached the final and we've not heard from anyone. I think the SPL have made it clear there will be no postponements.

"The SPL were very quick to put precedents down when they asked us to play four games in a week. Well the other precedent was to give teams in the past who have reached a European final a little bit of dispensation.

"But the SPL made it perfectly clear that there was no willingness on anybody's part to give us some leeway.

"The extension they put in place was because it was physically impossible for us to fit the games in, they weren't doing anyone a favour.

"Everyone in Scotland has made it quite clear they won't do anything for Rangers. We just have to do the best we can.

"We have got games to play, we'll play the games if everyone thinks that's the right thing to do then fair enough.

"It's obviously disappointing that Zenit have that bonus of two weeks clear, and we have no leeway at all "But it's been made quite clear they don't want to help Rangers, so we have to get on with it. I think they could have helped us, they could help any Scottish team."