Inverness firms worried about loss of Rangers business

By Ben Mundy
Newsbeat reporter in Inverness

Rangers will find out later if they're allowed to play in the Scottish Premier League (SPL) this season.

The club lost their place last month after being placed into liquidation owing more than £134m.

The company's since been taken over by a group led by Charles Green and they've applied to take the position of the old Rangers.

It looks unlikely though because in a vote of 12 clubs, Rangers need an eight to four majority but eight clubs have already revealed they will vote against the application.

That will leave Rangers, champions of Scotland a record 54 times, needing a football league place instead.

Newsbeat's been to the Scottish Highlands to see how today's vote could affect football communities.

Andy Forbes, 32 (bar manager, Inverness)

Andy admits there will be a noticeable difference to trade in his Exchange Bar if Rangers are not included in the SPL.

"If we didn't show football then there would be no point in opening up in the morning.

"There would be a noticeable difference if Rangers weren't in the SPL as clubs won't fill out their stadiums and bars like this will struggle.

"On a normal Saturday we would take £4,000. If an SPL game involving Rangers or Celtic was taking place we would be looking at £5,500.

"There are a lot of bars in Inverness and some of them don't have a very long shelf life as it is, football is massive for us and it's our major trade."

Chris McIntosh, 27 (taxi driver, Inverness)

Chris supports Rangers but says they deserve to be sent to Division Three because they have broken the rules.

"There will be money lost within the grounds of other SPL clubs and also with the bars and taxis on match days.

"When there's other teams about there's only a couple of hundred fans coming up. When it's Rangers or Celtic there are thousands in the city and that means more money for me.

"I would do about 12 to 13 hours on a normal Saturday but on a match day it's more like 13 to 16 hours.

"Which team it is makes a big difference. I find myself doing more hours if Rangers or Celtic are in town."

Zakir Khan, 27 (restaurant manager, Dingwall)

There is lots of Ross County memorabilia on the walls of the Dingwall Tandoori restaurant.

Zakir admits his profits will drop if his club is denied fixtures with Rangers.

"It is going to affect our businesses and our community because Rangers have a big fan base.

"When Glasgow people come to town, they have a good time, stay over the night and go drinking and have a bite to eat.

"Our intake improves if a big team like Rangers are in town. People have to book well in advance because every place in Dingwall gets packed.

"So with Rangers not there it could harm us, but you're hit with these types of concerns and we just have to overcome it by finding other ways to make our business work."