Raith Rovers winger Joe Cardle has revealed he would happily play Rangers at Ibrox in the Ramsdens Cup final.
The Kirkcaldy men reached the April 6 decider thanks to their 3-0 win over Annan Athletic at Stark’s Park.
The Light Blues have yet to get there but they are strong favourites to make it past Stenhousemuir in the other semi on October 29.
If they do so then there will be a big question mark over where the game is played, with Hampden out of commission due to it being a Commonwealth Games venue.
With a Rovers v Rangers match likely to be a big attraction, alternatives such as Tynecastle or Easter Road could prove too small.
Cardle, man-of-the-match against Annan, certainly wouldn’t mind a game in Govan should Rangers make it through.
“It doesn’t bother me who we get and I think it will be a tough game for Rangers in the semi-final, going away to Stenhousemuir on a Tuesday night,” he said.
“Who we get, we get. Mind you, it would be a huge thing for the club if we did get Rangers with the money that would bring in. It would set up our season.
“We have been speaking about where the match will be played if it is Rangers. I would be happy with Ibrox because I have played there before and scored twice.
“I would be pleased, personally, to play anywhere and the bigger the crowd the better for me.”
Rovers’ win, courtesy of a Peter Weatherson own goal and Callum Elliot double, means they have made it to a cup final for the first time in almost two decades.
“I have just heard that it is 20 years or so since Raith were last in a cup final so it’s obviously massive for the club and the team,” added Cardle.
Manager Grant Murray is now looking for his men to go on to be winners just as Jimmy Nicholl’s boys were when they saw off Celtic in the 1994 Coca-Cola Cup final.
“This is huge for the club,” said Murray.
“The lads come in here every day and see the pictures of that 1994 team on the wall. It would be great if our lads had a photograph of them with a trophy and a medal in their hands.
“This is a tournament that we always felt we could do well in and wanted to do well in. In cup football, especially a semi-final, to score three goals and keep a clean sheet is terrific.
“Annan played very well but I have to concentrate on my own team and we deserve to be in the final.”
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