Dundee could be in line for a shock return to the SPL if Rangers go bust.
According to Scottish Premier League insiders it would be the team finishing second in the First Division rather than the bottom SPL side who would benefit from the Ibrox club being liquidated and demoted.
That would mean the Dark Blues’ clash with Ayr United on Saturday could ultimately turn into a promotion clincher.
With two games left, the Dens Park club are four points clear of Falkirk in third and a win at Somerset Park would secure second place for Barry Smith’s men.
It is understood that if Rangers are liquidated once the season has finished then the bottom club in the top division either Dunfermline or Hibs will still be relegated.
Ross County will be promoted as champions but that would leave the SPL with only 11 members, so with any Rangers newco unable to sign players until the transfer window reopens on July 1, the runner-up in the First Division would be asked to make up the numbers.
If Rangers go bust before the current campaign ends on May 13 then, under the SPL’s Rule H5, there would be no relegation from the top tier.
That rule states: ”If any Club in the League ceases to operate or to be member of the League for any reason, its playing record in the League may be expunged and the number of relegation places from the League shall be reduced accordingly.”
However, with administrators Duff & Phelps claiming that the cash won’t run out until the end of the season, the prospect of winning promotion which seemed dead when Ross County won the title a fortnight ago should inspire Dundee, who have taken just one point from their last three matches.
Dundee captain Rhys Weston has admitted he would have mixed emotions over benefiting from any Rangers liquidation.
While he’s anxious to play at Parkhead and Pittodrie and experience Tayside derbies he’s also worried that his brother-in-law will be out of a job.
Weston said: ”Neil Alexander and I were team-mates at Cardiff City for five years and my wife and his wife are sisters so it’s a difficult situation and I’d hate to see him suffer.
”I also don’t want to see Rangers go out of business because they’re such a big club and so important for Scottish football.
”Having said that, it would be criminal of us not to take advantage of the situation if it arose. If circumstances conspire against them then we need to capitalise on that.
”Our last couple of performances have been shambolic so I’d have wanted to finish this season on a high even without this possibility.”
Weston (31) believes that Dundee whose promotion hopes were wrecked last season when they were docked 25 points for falling into administration could thrive in the top tier.
He said: ”The boys feel that we should have got there last season. Unfortunately, we were then hit with that 25-point penalty for going into administration.
”We did well to survive and avoid relegation but the players all felt aggrieved because we had been penalised over something that had nothing to do with us.”
He added: ”Our spirit shone through when we put together that 23-match unbeaten run and I think that, without that penalty, we could have won promotion.
”It might be ironic if we were to go up now because of someone else’s misfortune but we’ll take it if it comes.”