Raith Rovers: Boss Ian Murray gives his thoughts on much-needed financial boost of drawing giants Rangers at Ibrox in Scottish Cup

Rovers have lost an average of £150,000 a season since 2005, leading to fears of staff cuts at Stark’s Park as owner John Sim bids to sell the club.

"The club has been through a lot in the last year,” Murray told the Fife Free Press. “A lot of scrutiny, a lot of pressure from different areas on and off the park.

"We know financially it (drawing Rangers away) is going to be a huge help to us, as is the Challenge Cup final (against Hamilton Accies at Falkirk Stadium on Sunday, March 26).

"Both of those cups are going to generate much needed cash for us which couldn’t have come at a better time.

"Going to Ibrox is fantastic for the players. They get to go to a fantastic stadium, big occasion, playing against the holders who want to defend it.

"We know it’s going to be difficult. It’s probably the first game of the season where we go there as huge underdogs, nobody really expects us to win.

“They’re a quality side. Losing to Celtic in the league cup final would have hurt them. I don’t think it would give them any more ammunition trying to beat us.

"I think Rangers’ fans and club demand wins all the time. I don’t often like playing wounded animals because they are unpredictable and they could change their players a lot.

"I think we’re lucky they have two games in between now and then. They’ve got Kilmarnock at home this Saturday and then Hibs away on the Wednesday.

"Normally you would think them having a midweek game would give us a little bit more of an edge.

"But when you’re playing a team of Rangers’ quality and with their squad depth and the resources they’ve got it probably doesn’t mean very much.

"But we also know that we take heart from Partick Thistle’s performance at Ibrox (in a narrow 3-2 Rangers win in the last round of the Scottish Cup on February 12) and knowing that we have players who, on their day, if Rangers aren’t quite at their level, can go and cause a little bit of a problem.”

Murray said that excitement is building at Stark’s Park, with two massive cup fixtures upcoming as well as being in the Championship play-off mix.

He said: "There are potentially 12 games to go, maybe more depending on the Rangers result.

"So 12 massive games for us. We are on a decent unbeaten run, we’ve got lots and lots of positives."