Champions Rangers need talent injection, says Miller

Rangers striker Kenny Miller has urged the cash-strapped Ibrox board they must bring in new players next season when the Glasgow giants will defend their Scottish Premier League title.

“There are six lads who are out of contract so they are going to have to be replaced first and foremost,” said Miller.

“New players always bring a lift to a place and we’ve not had that for a while. We want to give a better account of ourselves in the Champions League, we want to get off to a strong start in trying to retain the title and new players will help that.”

Despite being crowned champions less than a week ago the storm clouds continue to gather over Ibrox with news that the club is being investigated over a tax issue relating to offshore accounts.

Doubts also remain over the long-term futures of the management team of Walter Smith, Ally McCoist and Kenny McDowall.

Celtic, who have already wrapped up second place, take on Motherwell at Parkhead looking for their sixth league win in a row since interim manager Neil Lennon took charge.

The Hoops watched rivals Rangers win their second league title in a row last weekend and Lennon’s assistant Johann Mjallby says sloppy defending cost Celtic the championship.

“From what I have seen, we haven’t been good enough defensively as a team,” Mjallby said.

“Unfortunately we have conceded too many sloppy goals, especially away from home. It’s hard to be top of the table when you don’t defend solidly, it’s always going to be hard to be crowned champions.”

With the matter of first and second place wrapped up, eyes will now turn towards the battle for Europa League spots and relegation.

The battle to avoid the drop looks like a two-way race between bottom club Falkirk and Kilmarnock, who are just one point ahead.

However, St Mirren are not safe yet and are just four points above the Bairns with three games remaining.

That gap could be cut this weekend when the two clubs face each other at Falkirk Stadium.

Only two weeks have passed since the sides last faced each other in the league when Falkirk defeated the Buddies 2-1 to give themselves hope of beating the drop.

They have lost the two games since but last season’s final day survival will give them confidence they can still be in the SPL next season.

Kilmarnock have a tough task as they host St Johnstone at Rugby Park.

The Perth side narrowly missed out a top six place before the split and sit top of the pile in the bottom half of the table.

Hibernian and Hearts clash in the final Edinburgh derby of the season at Easter Road.

Both sides are vying for the final European spot with Hibs in pole position sitting six points above their capital rivals.

Hibs defender Ian Murray says they will be desperate to end Hearts’ hopes.

“It’s arguably the biggest derby of the season and it means a lot to both sides,” Murray said.

“We know that it would put Hearts’ hopes of Europe to bed if we got the right result, but I am sure they will be thinking they can keep their hopes alive by putting one over on us.”

Fixtures

Saturday

Aberdeen v Hamilton, Celtic v Motherwell, Dundee United v Rangers, Falkirk v St Mirren, Hibernian v Hearts, Kilmarnock v St Johnstone