Sources: Rangers sniff a Celtic conspiracy as Ibrox legal plan mooted
Rangers have been left in no doubt that Celtic are the architects of the plan cooked up by SPFL chiefs to end the season prematurely, Football Insider understands.
Hampden bosses want the 42 Scottish clubs to rubber-stamp by tomorrow evening a proposal that sees the campaign in the Championship, League One and League Two declared over immediately.
A Scottish source has told Football Insider that Rangers chiefs are convinced Celtic have inspired the resolution that could end in them being crowned champions within a fortnight.
If the SPFL plan is given the thumbs up, their nine-person board will gain the authority to decide the final placings in the Premiership.
Led by managing director Stewart Robertson, Rangers are working behind the scenes to stave off the unprecedented move and sweet-talks clubs into backing their counter proposal.
It would allow prize money to be distributed to cash-strapped clubs via interest-free loans, while simultaneously holding off on any abandonment of the campaign.
Rangers are desperate to avoid a situation in which the season is called and Celtic are declared champions.
The Ibrox club will even consider legal action if the season is ended and their bitter rivals extend their title run to a record-equalling nine-in-a-row.
It would fly in the face of a joint letter from Uefa, the European Club Association and the European Leagues that says abandoning domestic competitions should be a ‘last resort’ and “at this stage is premature and not justified”.
Rangers released a strong statement on Wednesday afternoon which warned of “severe consequences for the Scottish game” if the “abhorrent” emergency proposals are voted through.
The SPFL motion needs a 75 percent majority in each division to be voted through, with a deadline set for Friday at 5pm.
The plan is likely to secure enough back in the SPL, but is meeting most resistance in Scotland’s second tier.
This is the key battleground for Rangers as they lobby for the season to be completed before a new one can begin.
As things stand, they are prepared to wait and see how the coronavirus crisis develops before making a final call on the top 12.
In other Rangers news, it can be REVEALED that the club have set their sights on a centre-forward who has blown ex-England striker away on Netflix.