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Steve Clarke defends decision to halve Rangers ticket allocation

Light Blues are usually given the Moffat and Chadwick stands when they travel to Ayrshire.

Steve Clarke insists Kilmarnock's decision to halve Rangers' ticket allocation for the last game of the season at Rugby Park has "nothing to do" with the Ibrox club.

Rangers are usually given the Moffat and Chadwick stands when they travel to Ayrshire.

However, they will now be housed solely in the 4,000-capacity Chadwick Stand for the Ladbrokes Premiership clash on May 19 with Killie saying earlier in the week by way of explanation: "As we continue our 150th anniversary, we want to turn our final match of the season into a celebration of all things Killie."

A Rangers spokesman responded in a statement which read: "We are disappointed with this decision, which will force us to consider carefully what allocation we will seek for future matches at Rugby Park."

Ahead of the Ladbrokes Premiership game against Aberdeen at Rugby Park on Saturday, Clarke said: "It is not about Rangers. It is about Kilmarnock.

"It is a decision about our football club and our fans. That is the most important thing. It has nothing to do with Rangers.

"I am not surprised (by the response) but as I say, it is a decision for Kilmarnock and their fans.

"The nonsense that has followed it is typical Scotland I suppose. Typical."

With five league fixtures remaining Killie are in third place with 58 points, ahead of Aberdeen on goal difference.

Clarke believes the Dons will be smarting from their 3-0 defeat to Celtic in the William Hill Scottish Cup semi-final at Hampden Park in their last outing.

He said: "I think it will be a tough game because they will be hurting badly from last week.

"They lost the game in a bad way so they will be looking at the last five games as five cup games to try to get into Europe, so we expect a tough challenge and we will be ready for it."

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General view of Rugby Park, home to Kilmarnock, from 2011
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rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
Championship Group
1Celtic000080265478
2RangersRangers000072234975
3Hearts000046341262
4Kilmarnock00004334951
5St Mirren00003843-543
6Dundee00004454-1041
Relegation Group
1Hibernian00004451-739
2Motherwell00004651-537
3Aberdeen00003549-1435
4St Johnstone00002446-2231
5Ross County00003256-2430
6Livingston00002259-3718
 
First Phase
1Celtic33246380265478
2RangersRangers33243672234975
3Hearts33195946341262
4Kilmarnock33131284334951
5St Mirren33127143843-543
6Dundee331011124454-1041
7Hibernian33912124451-739
8Motherwell33813124651-537
9Aberdeen33811143549-1435
10St Johnstone33710162446-2231
11Ross County3379173256-2430
12Livingston3339212259-3718


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