Rangers' Champions League nightmare will lead to Motherwell fixture switch

Rangers exiting the Champions League at the final qualifying stage last night at the hands of PSV Eindhoven will have a knock on effect on the Scottish Premiership fixture list - with next month's clash against Motherwell among six fixtures to be rescheduled.

The Ibrox side's 5-1 humiliation in Holland, which saw them lose 7-3 on aggregate, means the club will drop into the group stages of UEFA's secondary competition, the Europa League.

Matches in the tournament are played on Thursdays, so the Premiership fixtures which fall on Saturdays in Europa League weeks will now be put back 24 hours.

The Steelmen were due to travel to Ibrox on Saturday, September 23 for a 3pm kick-off, but the Fir Park faithful will need to prepare to move the date in their diaries to the Sunday, with Rangers' first Europa League group fixture due to be played on Thursday, September 21.

The draw for the Europa League group stages will be made tomorrow.

Motherwell have already seen this weekend's clash with Hearts - who are in Europa Conference League qualifying action against POAK tonight - put back 24 hours for similar reasons.

Should the Jambos qualify for the Conference League proper, the Steelmen's home clash with Hearts on November 11 would also be moved from the Saturday, given Matchday 4 of the Conference League will be played on Thursday, November 9.

Hearts trail POAK 2-1 from the first leg at Tynecastle.

Other matches affected by Rangers' European fixtures are:

St Mirren A, Saturday October 7

Hearts H, Saturday October 28

Livingston, Saturday November 12

St Mirren H, Saturday December 3

Hibs A, Saturday, December 16

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