Inevitable Rangers will compete outside Scotland claims chairman Dave King

It is "inevitable" Rangers will one day compete outside of Scotland, according to chairman Dave King.

Answering questions from fans on the club's official website, King said Rangers - who won promotion to the Scottish Premiership last season - would always struggle to compete with English sides financially unless they switched divisions.

Talking of the importance of Rangers giving a good account of themselves should they return to European football, King said: "It is also essential that our transfer activities are conducted in a financially responsible manner. Long gone are the days when Rangers was able to attract top players from England and Europe (Terry Butcher, Richard Gough, Mark Hateley, Ray Wilkins, Graeme Souness, Paul Gascoigne, Brian Laudrup etc.) by paying more than they were earning.

"The English Premier League now has more media value than the next three major leagues combined. That has resulted in clubs, that are much smaller than Rangers in pure footballing terms (and history,) having substantially greater transfer funds to invest in players - but only while they are participating in the EPL or the Championship.

"While it is frustrating to find Rangers being out bid for targeted players by smaller English clubs (with greater short term access to cash,) it would be financially reckless to compete with them and not recognise the current market reality.

"This reality will only change if Rangers is able to bridge the income gap by competing outside of Scottish football - which will inevitably happen. In the short term, European participation is partial compensation towards bridging this gap."

Rangers and Old Firm rivals Celtic have long been linked with a switch south of the border.

The proposed restructure of England's league system could open the door to such a move - it has been put forward that a new fifth division could be added - but there has been no comment from Rangers or Celtic.