RANGERS chief executive Martin Bain has reignited the row with the Scottish Premier League after Zenit St Petersburg were granted a week to prepare for the Uefa Cup final on 14 May.
The Russian Football Federation has moved Zenit's game in the far
Eastern Russian city of Vladivostok, which had been scheduled for the weekend before the final at the City of Manchester Stadium, to allow Dick Advocaat's squad extra preparation time.
Rangers, however, will have to play Dundee United at Ibrox four days before the final as they continue their chase for the SPL title.
Bain said: "I think the very fact that the Russian federation has recognised the fact that Zenit need a clear week to prepare for such a big final just illustrates exactly Rangers' position on this. The SPL should have a long, hard look at what other federations do, given the enormity of the situation and what reaching a European final has done for the co-efficient and the country.
"I expressed last week my complete disappointment at the fixture scheduling and now that we are actually in the final that disappointment has been exacerbated. If you look at the number of games we will play this season, it will be 68.
"No-one will play more European games this season than Rangers. Indeed, no British club has ever played more than the 19 games we will play in Europe this season. It's incredible."
The SPL offered two fixture plans in the event of Rangers either winning or losing the semi-final against the Serie A side on Thursday night.
The demands of television, however, have also played a part with Walter Smith's team facing a crucial trip to St Mirren on Monday, 19 May, two days after a potentially exacting 90 minutes at Motherwell. If both Celtic and Rangers do not drop points in forthcoming matches, Rangers' game at Love Street will be where the SPL title can be clinched.
Indeed, Rangers will also be required to fulfil their final league fixture less than 48 hours before the Scottish Cup final against Queen of the South at Hampden Park on 24 May.
After the trip to Hibs tomorrow, Rangers play host to Motherwell – three days before the visit of Dundee United. With all three opposition clubs chasing a Uefa Cup spot for next season, the challenge is no easier for Rangers.
The game at Fir Park, rearranged after postponements earlier in the season, represents another tough test for a Rangers side chasing three trophies to add to the CIS Cup.
The SPL season will then end on Thursday, 22 May, with Rangers travelling to Aberdeen, while Old Firm rivals, Celtic, play at Tannadice.
The rearrangement of SPL games in the wake of Rangers' win on Thursday means Hearts will end their season earlier than the rest of the top flight, with their final match 'away' to Gretna now moved to Tuesday, 13 May, to accommodate the Ibrox club's game against Motherwell four days later. Rangers' title rivals Celtic will not play for an 11-day period between the visit of Hibs on 11 May and their final match of the season against Dundee United.
Meanwhile, Rangers winger DaMarcus Beasley could end a lengthy spell on the sidelines by making his comeback against Hibernian tomorrow. The United States international has been out of action since sustaining knee ligament damage in a Champions League game back in November but is now fully fit.
Remaining fixturesRANGERS' run to the UEFA Cup final will impact on the final weeks of the season in Scotland. Several SPL fixtures will be moved and the end of the campaign moves back four days from 18 May to 22 May.
Gretna have announced that their home match against Hearts, which was initially moved from 17 May to 8 May, will now be played on 13 May.
Rangers' rescheduled match against St Mirren has also been moved from 20 May to 19 May.
MAY SCHEDULE:Today: Aberdeen v Dundee Utd; Inverness v Gretna; Motherwell v Celtic; St Mirren v Kilmarnock.
Tomorrow: Hibernian v Rangers
Monday 5 May: Falkirk v Hearts.
Wednesday 7 May: Rangers v Motherwell.
Saturday 10 May: Rangers v Dundee Utd; Falkirk v Inverness; Hearts v Kilmarnock; Motherwell v Aberdeen; St Mirren v Gretna.
Sunday 11 May: Celtic v Hibernian.
Tuesday 13 May: Gretna v Hearts (moved from 17 May).
Wednesday 14 May: Zenit St Petersburg v Rangers (Uefa Cup final in Manchester)
Saturday 17 May: Motherwell v Rangers (rearranged game, postponed earlier in the season). Inverness v St Mirren. Kilmarnock v Falkirk.
Monday 19 May: St Mirren v Rangers (rearranged game, postponed earlier in the season).
Thursday 22 May: Aberdeen v Rangers. Dundee United v Celtic. Hibernian v Motherwell (all fixtures moved from 18 May).
Saturday 24: Rangers v Queen of the South (Scottish Cup final at Hampden)
Route to quadruple
UEFA CUPZenit St Petersburg stand between Rangers and the second European trophy in their history, 36 years after their European Cup-Winners' Cup triumph. Rangers will be playing their 19th European game of the season in the 14 May final, having started their campaign in the second round of Champions League qualifying. Walter Smith's defensive tactics have drawn criticism from several opponents, but they have been highly successful and could be richly rewarded in Manchester. Former Rangers manager Dick Advocaat will be in charge of Zenit.
PREMIER LEAGUETwo defeats to Celtic last month saw Rangers drift five points behind their great rivals in the SPL, however the Ibrox side have three games in hand and so their fate is in their own hands. Rangers are firm favourites with bookmakers, but they must play Hibernian, Motherwell (twice), Dundee United, St Mirren and Aberdeen by 22 May.
SCOTTISH CUPThe season ends at Hampden for Rangers on 24 May, when First Division side Queen of the South will be their cup final opponents. Queens beat Aberdeen in the semi-finals, taking advantage of a porous Dons defence, but given Rangers' strength at the back the chances of the minnows carrying off the trophy appear remote. Fatigue could be the only worry for Rangers, who will be playing a third game in six days.
CIS INSURANCE CUPThis one is already in the bag. Rangers beat Dundee United in a penalty shoot-out in the Hampden final on 16 March after an exhilarating 2-2 draw. Substitute Kris Boyd twice hauled Rangers level after United boldly took the game to the favourites, and the striker then struck the winning spot-kick. Victory ended a barren run for Rangers, who had not won a trophy since the SPL title in 2005.
The full article contains 1129 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
