What Now For Rangers FC?

GLASGOW RANGERS tonight find themselves seven points adrift of top spot in the SPL after the Champions, Celtic, inflicted a demoralising home defeat on the men from Govan. Rangers must now wake up tomorrow having to face the prospect of a fourth successive SPL Championship triumph for their arch rivals, after diminutive Australian striker Scott McDonald netted a superb winner in the 58th minute to seal victory in the second Old Firm fixture of the season yesterday.

Depressingly for Rangers, their record in recent Old Firm matches now reads played four, won one, lost three, as they watch their once steely grip on Scottish football wilt and die. Indeed, there can be no guarantee for Rangers that they will even hold on to second place, with a resurgent Dundee United and Heart of Midlothian challenging for the Champions League knock-out qualifying spot.

There will be no repeat of events that unfolded last season, either. Rangers punched above their weight and went on a run that saw them advance to the final of Europe's second-tier competition, the UEFA Cup—a run which saw them gain the help of the SPL who postponed domestic fixtures in the run up to that final. With no European football after Christmas for either Glasgow side, this will no longer be an option. But this needn't matter to the Bhoys from across the city, who are seven points clear in the title race.

Much should be made of the respective squads. Celtic, who have at times been without a full first XI of players in recent months, have embarked on a run which has seen them win 13, draw one, and lose only one of their last 15 matches. Celtic have shown they have the squad to compete in the advent of injury, suspension, or even, ironically, self-imposed bans, as in the case of Aiden McGeady.

Rangers, conversely, have embarked on a policy that has seen them sell their best players in the transfer windows, such is their financial plight—Alan Hutton, Carlos Cuellar, and Daniel Cousin, hero at Celtic Park a few months back, being prime examples.

So what now for Rangers?

Celtic are dominating the Scottish scene. Rangers must keep their financial boat floating in the choppy waters, hoping to be perennial runners up. This, at least, will afford them entry into the knock out stages of the Champions League and much needed financial relief.

Anything less, and it could be the ultimate disaster that awaits the Ibrox men: 

Footballing oblivion.