Rangers manager Ally McCoist eager for second-tier berth if leagues are shook up

Rangers should be placed in the second tier of Scottish football if the structure of leagues is altered, manager Ally McCoist has said.

Currently in the fourth tier, Rangers are on the verge of securing the Third Division title after being demoted from the SPL for financial troubles last year.

However, the 12 SPL clubs will vote next month on whether the current 12-10-10-10 system should be replaced by a 12-12-18 hierarchy.

"In our eyes, if 12-12-18 is implemented and we are in the 18, then I don't see us getting promotion," McCoist told Rangers TV.

"The argument would be that we would in the third tier but I don't buy that because every other team in the league would be getting promotion with us.

"I don't think that is fair - especially when a precedent has been set. Stranraer won the bottom tier in 1994 and were promoted two divisions due to reconstruction."

Eleven out of 12 votes are required for a move to a structure of two top leagues of 12, which would split into three leagues of eight midway through the season.