Rangers Likely to Play St Mirren Amid Champions League Qualification

Rangers manager Russell Martin has indicated that the club is likely to play their upcoming Premiership match against St Mirren on August 24, despite having the option to postpone it if they advance to the Champions League play-off round by overcoming Viktoria Plzen. The Scottish Professional Football League's new rule permits postponement of one league game that falls just before a European tie to aid preparation, and Rangers had been expected to use this option. However, Martin emphasized that no final decision has been made and that the league standings early in the season will not dictate whether the match is postponed. He also noted that the team’s primary focus remains on winning the crucial second leg against Viktoria Plzen before considering any changes. Concerns exist about the potential impact of postponement on Rangers, including the absence of defender Nasser Djiga for the subsequent Old Firm derby if the St Mirren fixture is delayed. Overall, while postponement remains an option, the current expectation from Rangers is to play the St Mirren match as originally scheduled.