Gretna boss Davie Irons revealed his club are more than willing to help Rangers in their Champions League quest by switching next Sunday's scheduled match in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League.

The Ibrox side have applied to postpone the scheduled televised game ahead of their crucial final Group E match at home to Lyon.

Irons said on Saturday: "It's something I expected when Stuttgart scored their winner, and we're open to trying to help.

"We have to look at the bigger picture - it isn't just about Rangers, it's about the knock-on effect for the whole of Scottish football, the co-efficient and the positive effects it can have on our game.

"There's no barrier from us; we understand the situation and we'd love to be able to help, and the same would be the case for Celtic or whoever was in competition.

"We're dealing with the SPL, SFA and Setanta, who I'm sure have quite a big say as they've scheduled the game, but I think it's a sensible, common sense approach.''

Rangers will learn on Monday whether the December 9 match will be rescheduled.

It comes three days before Rangers face Lyon and the Glasgow side want more time to prepare for the winner-takes-all clash.

Rangers manager Walter Smith told BBC Radio Scotland: "It's an important game for ourselves obviously and that break would give us an opportunity, not so much to rest players because I don't think that's an essential part of it, but to avoid injury.

"I think that's the biggest aspect of it, so if we get that opportunity then we'll be grateful for it.''