Hibs to reject Rangers' bid

Rangers: The Glasgow club are facing increasing opposition to their bid to join the SPL

Hibernian have joined the growing list of clubs that will reject newco Rangers' application for entry to the Scottish Premier League.

Dundee United and Edinburgh rivals Hearts have already announced they will not be backing the Glasgow club's bid at the July 4 meeting, and Hibs have now arrived at the same conclusion after a board meeting on Sunday night.

Club chiefs fear that the sporting integrity of the SPL will be damaged if the new outfit are allowed to take the place of the oldco Rangers who were put into liquidation by receivers.

"Following a meeting of its board of directors, Hibernian FC confirmed that the club will vote against the transfer of the Rangers share in the SPL to a newco at the general meeting of SPL clubs on 4 July 2012," said a statement on the club's website.

"This re-affirms the view of the board that the sporting integrity of the SPL is of paramount importance.

"The board is also acutely aware that in making this decision, Hibernian - like other clubs in the SPL - will suffer collateral financial damage at a time of severe economic hardship and uncertainty.

"The board believes it is time for all fair-minded supporters to get behind their clubs and to contribute in whatever way they can to the viability of the professional game in Scotland."

Motherwell will ballot their fans at the end of June on the issue ahead of the July SPL general meeting in which all 12 top-flight clubs (including oldco Rangers) will vote on newco Rangers' application.