Rangers focus on Old Firm, not crisis

Steven Whittaker says his Rangers team-mates will be fully focused on Sunday's Old Firm showdown with Celtic despite uncertainty growing over the Scottish Premier League club's future. The crisis-stricken Ibrox club's prospects of being taken over by a new owner were dealt a major blow this week after it was hit with severe sanctions from the Scottish Football Association. The Glasgow giants have been hit with a 12-month ban from signing any new players as well as a £160,000 fine after the SFA judicial panel ruled Rangers had brought the game into disrepute after entering administration in February. The move has shocked the club's manager Ally McCoist who claimed the punishment could "kill" Rangers, who could face dropping into Scotland's third division if they are liquidated. The developments have been unsettling for the Rangers players as well with many now unsure whether they will remain at the club after the end of the 2011/12 campaign. However, Whittaker insists the players are putting the club's problems to the back of their minds and are only thinking about winning the final Old Firm game of the season and restoring some pride to the Ibrox club. "We can only concentrate on the games right now. And Sunday takes care of itself," Whittaker said. "It is important that we are professional and treat every game on its own merits. We want to go into the game on Sunday and get the three points and I am sure we will do that. "Obviously, there is a lot happening. But we as football players need to concentrate on what is happening on the pitch, on playing well at the weekend. Hopefully, everything else can take care of itself. "There are uncertain times ahead. But we are optimistic things can be sorted out as quickly as possible for the sake of the players, the fans and the club. Hopefully, we can bounce back stronger. "I haven't given any thought to the prospect of the club folding and dropping down to the bottom division. "We all want the club to continue as it is. Hopefully, whoever comes in will keep the club as it is." Rangers will be without Steven Davis through injury and his Northern Ireland team-mate Kyle Lafferty, who was suspended for two weeks for a breach of club discipline. Meanwhile, Victor Wanyama says Celtic will not slack off against Rangers despite having the SPL title in the bag. The Hoops are 18 points clear of their fierce rivals, who were docked 10 points for entering administration, but Wanyama, who was sent off the last time the sides met at Ibrox says he and his team-mates want to make amends for that defeat. "For me, there is pressure in every game because we need to show that we are a good team and we need to show it by winning games," the Kenyan international said. "We are also preparing for next season and we have to be winning and we have to go for it in every game. You want to keep your performances up. "We are looking forward to playing this game. We are happy to have another chance to prove ourselves. "I know we lost the last time but hopefully this weekend we will get the three points so we will be working hard. You saw what happened before and we are going to try to have less mistakes." Fixtures (1400GMT unless otherwise stated) Sunday Celtic v Rangers (1145), St Mirren v Hibernian (1415)