If Rangers do not make the Manchester date, the games will go ahead as planned on Sunday, May 19.

Should there be a need for an extension, however, it will see them face St Mirren in an outstanding league fixture on Tuesday, May 20.

For Dundee United fans, that means they will have to wait until the conclusion of the UEFA semis on May 1, before finding out exactly when their team’s last-day clash with Celtic will go ahead.

And, while he was making no rash predictions about how the next 12 months would unfold, he made it clear he is already prepared for another battle at the top end of the First Division.

“If people come in and offer them more money, you are going to lose your best players — that’s the way it is in football now,” he said today.

“There will also be other players I feel need to be replaced and I am already in the process of speaking to players whose contracts are expiring at other clubs and who I feel can come here and do a job.”

The next few days will also see the gaffer holding talks with the likes of Scott Robertson, Paul Dixon, Milan Palenik, Gavin Swankie, Craig Samson, Jani Sturm and Jan Zemlik, all of whom are out of contract.

Several of them are attracting interest from elsewhere and not all of them will be offered the option of being at Dens Park next season.

“It will take a day or two to get round them all and, until I’ve spoken to them face to face, I will not be saying which ones are not part of my plans.”

However many move, Alex believes his situation this summer will be far less complicated than when he took the helm two years ago.

“In terms of numbers it might be similar, but when I arrived we were looking to get five or six players who were on big money to move on and that was difficult.

“It is not the same now, and I do have time to put a team together for the start of next season. Once we’ve done that, it’s about going out and doing our best, that’s all we can guarantee.”

Despite missing out on promotion, there is also a strong belief that the club is now more stable than in recent times and the money spent on the bid to get back to the top flight has not left them in a precarious financial position.

On the fitness front, Czech pair Palenik and Zemlik are both continuing their rehab from knee operations, though neither will make the final game against Hamilton.

Boss Craig Levein was watching from the stand at Forthbank and admitted today he liked what he saw from the 21-year-old, whose season has been blighted by double knee surgery.

“He got 85 minutes and a goal and, after his problems, that was the main thing, but I have to say he did well again,” said Craig.

“If he keeps progressing, there is a good chance I’ll offer him a contract for a year so that we can have a good look at him once he is fully fit next season.”

Smith will not be considered for the first-team trip to Motherwell on Saturday and, while he will be in the 18 for that lunchtime date, midfielder Prince Buaben will have to be content with a place on the bench.

The Ghanaian was another who impressed yesterday, but will have to remain patient for another chance in the top team.

“Prince did well, but his problem is that the midfield have been performing for me and I don’t see the need to change bodies in that area right now.”

MacDonald is due to undergo hernia surgery and Saints are hopeful that will be done next week.

On top of that, the Perth club have several players one booking away from suspensions and they are unlikely to be risked tomorrow.

Daniel McBreen and youngsters Kevin Moon and David Weatherston are included in tomorrow’s pool.