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I listened with interest to this morning's sports report on BBC Scotland which discussed the latest twist to the Rangers saga. Relegation to the First Division with SKY being “guaranteed” an Old Firm fixture through a revamped Glasgow Cup. The first suggestion is clearly designed to allow honour (I use the term loosely) to be satisfied by relegating Rangers but minimising the financial damage by limiting it to a one season demotion. Not much point in the rest of us turning up next season, is there? By hook or by crook (and how appropriate is that phrase?), the newco will shed the old crimes and debts and be back after the minor inconvenience of one season mingling with the lower orders. As for the second proposal - intriguing that SKY can be “guaranteed” such a fixture since there are four senior teams playing in Glasgow and in membership of the Glasgow Football Association. To offer such a “guarantee”, Rangers & Celtic would require to be drawn against each other in one semi-final with Queens Park facing PTFC in the other. Suits us, but the cynic in me suggests that the intention is to offer SKY an Old Firm game with a trophy, and quite a magnificent piece of silverware it is, on offer at the end. So might the draw be manipulated – a shameful suggestion I know – and then everything possible done to ensure that the “right” result emerged from the semis? As I said, a cynical suggestion but then as far as Scottish Football is concerned, a cynic is what an idealist calls a realist!

With an eye on next season, I've compiled the following list of out-of-contract First Division players. I can't claim it to be definitive - I can't find details of Ayr players' contracts for a start - but it'll give you a fair idea of those that'll be looking for clubs. One guy who's not on there, because he's currently tied to an SPL club, but I thought I'd mention given the Cairney situation is Martin Scott. Having compiled it, I'd actually say it was a largely pointless exercise! I wouldn't take many of those listed over our current players and those I would will be in the 'unrealistic' category. I assume our targets will be freed SPL players and promising lower league footballers. Rab Douglas, goalkeeper, Dundee Kyle Benedictus, defender, Dundee Gary Irvine, defender, Dundee Matt Lockwood, defender, Dundee Neil McGregor, defender, Dundee Craig McKeown, defender, Dundee Rhys Weston, defender, Dundee Ross Chisholm, midfielder, Dundee Ryan Conroy, midfielder, Dundee Mark Fotheringham, midfielder, Dundee Jamie McCluskey, midfielder, Dundee Stephen O'Donnell, midfielder, Dundee Nicky Riley, midfielder, Dundee Graham Bayne, forward, Dundee Jake Hyde, forward, Dundee Steven Milne, forward, Dundee Darren Dods, defender, Falkirk Kieran Duffie, defender, Falkirk Mark Millar, midfielder, Falkirk Farid El Alagui. forward, Falkirk David Hutton, goalkeeper, Hamilton Accies Martin Canning, defender, Hamilton Accies Mark McLaughlin, defender, Hamilton Accies Grant Anderson, midfielder, Hamitlon Accies James Chambers, midfielder, Hamillton Accies Jim McAlister, midfielder, Hamilton Accies Simon Mensing, midfielder, Hamilton Accies Andy McNeil, goalkeeper, Livingston Cammy MacDonald, defender, Livingston Bobby Barr, midfielder, Livingston Keaghan Jacobs, midfielder, Livingston Kyle Jacobs, midfielder, Livingston Rory Boulding, forward, Livingston Iain Russell, forward, Livingston Colin Stewart, goalkeeper, Greenock Morton Ross Forsyth, defender, Greenock Morton Andy Graham, defender, Greenock Morton Marc Smyth, defender, Greenock Morton Grant Evans, defender, Greenock Morton Faoud Bachirou, midfielder, Greenock Morton Sean Fitzharris, midfielder, Greenock Morton Iain Flannigan, Greenock Morton Darren McGeough, midfielder, Greenock Morton David O'Brien, midfielder, Greenock Morton Derek Young, midfielder, Greenock Morton Paul Di Giacomo, forward, Greenock Morton Peter Weatherson, forward, Greenock Morton Archie Campbell, forward, Greenock Morton Andy Jackson, forward, Greenock Morton Peter MacDonald, forward, Greenock Morton Lee Robinson, Queen of the South Chris Higgins, defender, Queen of the South Craig Reid, defender, Queen of the South Ryan McGuffie, defender, Queen of the South Dan Carmichael, midfielder, Queen of the South Allan Johnston, midfielder, Queen of the South Stephen McKenna, midfielder, Queen of the South Scott McLaughlin, midfielder, Queen of the South Dan Orsi, midfielder, Queen of the South Stephen Simmons, midfielder, Queen of the South Tam Brighton, forward, Queen of the South Marc McCusker, forward, Queen of the South Sam Parkin, forward, Queen of the South Kevin Smith, forward, Queen of the South David McGurn, goalkeeper, Raith Rovers Laurie Ellis, defender, Raith Rovers Dougie Hill, defender, Raith Rovers Willie Dyer, defender, Raith Rovers Iain Davidson, midfielder, Raith Rovers iain Williamson, midfielder, Raith Rovers Allan Walker, midfielder, Raith Rovers Scott McBride, midfielder, Raith Rovers John Baird, forward, Raith Rovers Damian Casalinuovo, forward, Raith Rovers Michael Fraser, goalkeeper, Ross County Joe Malin, goalkeeper, Ross County Gary Miller, defender, Ross County Johnny Flynn, defender, Ross County Scott Boyd, defender, Ross County Scott Morrison, defender, Ross County Richard Brittain, midfielder, Ross County Paul Lawson, midfielder, Ross County Stuart Kettlewell, midfielder, Ross County Mark Corcoran, midfielder, Ross County Iain Vigurs, midfielder, Ross County Kurtis Byrne, forward, Ross County Steven Craig, forward, Ross County