Ibrox chiefs have notified the SPFL they are planning to take the option to postpone the fixture if they get past Viktoria Plzen
Rangers boss Russell Martin
Russell Martin admits Rangers could still make the trip to Paisley later this month EVEN if they make the Champions League play-offs.
Gers are scheduled to face St Mirren at the SMISA on Sunday, August 24 – but Ibrox chiefs have notified SPFL they are planning to take up the option to postpone the fixture against Stephen Robinson’s Buddies should they progress past Viktoria Plzen to make the final eliminator for UEFA’s top tournament.
Those plans, however, have been thrown into disarray by Gers’ nightmare start to the campaign following back-to-back draws against Motherwell and Dundee.
Should they skip the Saints fixture, it would leave the Light Blues potentially looking at slipping 10 points behind Celtic in the event of them losing the opening Old Firm fixture at the end of the month.
Defender Nasser Djiga would also be forced to sit out the derby battle should the trip along the M8 be shelved following his dismissal against Dundee on Saturday.
But now Martin says a final call has yet to be reached on whether the game goes ahead – but insists it won’t be determined by the early moves in the title race.
Martin – whose side lead Plzen 3-0 ahead of Tuesday’s second leg – said: “No decision has been made either way.
“I think we were told the option would be there. But the plan has always been to play the game, depending on what happened on the Tuesday night and if we get through this. It’s flexible.
“But the league table this early will not dictate what we do with the game.
“Someone mentioned to me this morning, oh, this can happen, this permutation and all this stuff, but it’s just not something we’re going to get caught up with.
“We’re not even at the end of August yet. So, we’ll see.
“But our league position, the points table and all that stuff, will not dictate what we do with the St Mirren game at all.
“So, at the minute, I expect we’ll play.
“If that changes, because for whatever reason, we feel it will help us.
“But we have to win this game tomorrow first as well. So, we’ll see.”