RANGERS were awarded full SFA membership at the eleventh hour last night but are still fighting any move by the SPL to strip them of titles.

Ibrox chief Charles Green agreed a compromise deal after another day of tense talks.

Rangers were granted the licence which allows them to start life as a Third Division club starting with tomorrow’s Ramsdens Cup first-round clash with Brechin at Glebe Park. Green had to agree to accept a 12-month registration embargo and £160,000 fine before the situation could be resolved.

Formal transfer of the old company’s share in the top flight to Dundee will now take place at an SPL meeting on August 3.

One of the major stumbling blocks during talks has been the SPL’s desire for Rangers to accept being stripped of titles if found guilty of their alleged use of dual contracts between 2001 and 2010.

But while Green has agreed to be liable for any sanctions handed out after the SPL’s investigation, the club insist they will contest title stripping.

That will be a fight for a later day between Rangers and the SPL if the club are found guilty.

The SPL want to hand the issue to an independent judicial panel on August 10 to rule on whether the club’s former owners breached regulations with alleged undisclosed payments through the controversial EBT tax avoidance scheme.

But boss Ally McCoist can now finally prepare for a game after previously arranged pre-season friendlies had to be cancelled due to the club not having its SFA licence.

They go into tomorrow’s historic match at Glebe Park with a wafer-thin squad although former Hearts trio Ian Black, Craig Beattie and Kevin Kyle have all been training at Murray Park and could be listed by McCoist as trialists. Meanwhile, Brechin boss Jim Weir fears the game has become a circus.

He said: “It has become a bit of a circus and I’m not sure who the clowns are.

“It has been unhelpful in terms of preparation for the club. We’ve had to hold meetings and put things in place for Rangers coming.

“We need extra police, we’ve had to print off 3500 programmes. Arranging sponsors and hospitality is another aspect to it.

“It’s all to do with Brechin accommodating a big crowd of more than 4000. We had to install extra portaloos so we’re doing our bit to ensure the day goes smoothly.

“I wouldn’t say I’m at the stage where I just want the game over with. I still want to savour the build-up to it and try to enjoy it.

“We’ll welcome Rangers on Sunday but we’re going out to beat them.”