Uefa boost for Rangers

Rangers will start their Uefa Cup campaign in October

Rangers have been boosted by the news they will be seeded for the opening two rounds of the Uefa Cup next season.

The Ibrox club are ranked in the top 16 of the competition after their Champions League and Uefa Cup performances in the last few years.

They will now avoid major sides such as Celta Vigo, Lazio, Schalke 04, Chelsea and Leeds in the first two rounds of the competition, the first round of which starts on 19 September.

Ibrox secretary Campbell Ogilvie believes the fact the team will not have to play European ties before the start of the Premier League season will be of benefit to the club.

Ogilvie told the club's official website www.rangers.co.uk: "It seems clear we will be seeded in the first round and probably in further rounds if we can progress and that is obviously highly beneficial although there are still difficult opponents out there.

"The big change for us is that we may not play our first home European game until 3 October, which is a full two months into the season.

"Last season we had played four European matches by 22 August.

"As we are in the Uefa Cup we will not know our opponents in the first round until 30 August when the draw is made so it will certainly give the team some time to settle into a rhythm."

Rangers lost out to eventual Uefa Cup winners Feyenoord last season in the last 16 of the competition.