St Mirren close door on an extension to the season for Rangers after players book holiday to millionaires' playground

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• More Rangers news

Walter Smith's Ibrox side are still waiting for the SPL to schedule outstanding fixtures against Saints at Love Street and Motherwell at Fir Park.

But any hopes of those games being held back until after the current May 18 end-of-season date receded last night as it emerged the Paisley club's players will be on holiday after they have fulfilled their final bottom-six fixture.

Gus MacPherson's side are at Inverness on Saturday, May 17 for their last game of the season and the players will fly to Spain the following day.

The Love Street manager and his assistant, Andy Millen, also have UEFA Pro-Licence commitments abroad from that date.

"I can confirm that our players have made arrangements to take a break immediately after the last game of the season," confirmed MacPherson. "They won't be in the country and are heading to Spain for a holiday. It is something the players put together themselves."

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Opportunity knocks: a spate of injuries and suspensions to a number of first-team regulars meant Andy Webster, Steven Naismith and Neil Alexander (below) went into a training session yesterday knowing they may soon be called upon

Champions Celtic have already made their feelings clear that there should be no extension of the season - even if Rangers are competing in the UEFA Cup Final at the City of Manchester Stadium on Wednesday, May 14.

Smith, the Ibrox hierarchy and SPL office-bearers Iain Blair and Lex Gold were wrestling with the issue again yesterday, but a four-games-in-eight-days scenario looks increasingly likely for the league leaders and Scottish Cup favourites.