CRAIG NELSON last night warned Rangers – you couldn’t fit a SOFA into the away dressing room at Glebe Park.

And the veteran Brechin keeper is hell-bent on making sure Ally McCoist’s side endure an uncomfortable trip to Angus tomorrow.

At 41, Nelson thought his days of trying to shut out the Old Firm were long gone.

But with the crisis-hit Ibrox club dropping down to the SFL this summer, he’s gearing up for yet another crack at Gers in the Ramsdens Cup.

Nelson admits that playing a part in Rangers’ first match since liquidation will have an ‘I was there’ feel about it.

But he’s deadly serious when he says if McCoist’s men don’t adapt to their new surroundings, Jim Weir’s outfit plan to take full advantage.

Nelson said: “It’s a big occasion because it’s a new beginning for Rangers.

“There will be a lot of focus on the game and it’s one everyone would love to be involved in.

“It’s one of those days where you can say, ‘I was there when it happened’.

“The Glebe Park pitch is always brilliant at the start of the season. The surface is unbelievable but it’s a tight wee ground.

“Rangers won’t have the facilities they’re used to. The away dressing room isn’t even as big as a living room. You wouldn’t even get a couch in it.

“When I used to come here before I signed for Brechin, once the team was named the players who weren’t being used had to leave the dressing room – there just isn’t enough space.

“Rangers will need to leave their hampers out in the hallway. But that’s what they’ll need to get used to because most Third Division grounds will be like that.

“It will be hard for us but if we put in a good performance, do ourself justice, we’ll give them a game.

“The TV cameras will be there and we want to do the club proud. If we come out at the other end with a result, great.”

Nelson is in his ninth season with City and is adamant he has at least another THREE years in the SFL left in him. He has been used to facing the Old Firm in a career which took in spells at Partick, Hearts, St Johnstone and Falkirk.

However, he feared he wouldn’t get another chance against one of Scotland’s big two.

Now he wants to thwart Gers then face them again next season if the Ibrox side earn a quick-fire promotion to the Second Division.

Nelson said: “I’ve played against the Old Firm many times in my career. But I’m as excited about this one as any in the past. When you drop down divisions and get older you don’t expect the opportunity to come up that often.

“I always thrived on games against Rangers or Celtic in the past. You have to because the atmosphere is always better than usual – especially when you’re playing in the lower divisions.

“You get caught up in the build-up and normally the game is gone before you know it.

“It might be the last time I get to play against a team like Rangers. Although I might get another chance next season because I can see them progressing through the divisions.

“If Brechin don’t go up we’re hoping to get another shot at them next year. I have three or four years left in me. I’ve got a niggling knee injury at the moment – there’s a lot of arthritis in there!

“I got a jag on Tuesday to try to clear it up so hopefully I’ll be okay for Sunday. I’ve been injury free for the last few years and this is my ninth season at the club.

“I’m definitely looking for a 10th so I might get a testimonial!”

Nelson played against Rangers sides of the past that included a glut of international stars but finds it hard to comprehend what has happened to the Glasgow giants.

Even after being demoted from the SPL, the Brechin keeper didn’t think he’d see Gers ply their trade in the bottom tier of Scottish football.

As he prepares to face McCoist’s new-look team tomorrow, the stopper admits he couldn’t name HALF of their probable starting line-up. He said: “I don’t think anyone can believe what has happened at Rangers or where they find themselves now.

“Even when everything came out, I just couldn’t see them ending up in the Third Division.

“I couldn’t even name five Rangers players now, whereas before I could rhyme off the first-team, subs and squad players.

“Before we’d be able to send someone to watch Rangers, get an idea of how they set up and what they’ll do.

“But they’ve not played any games so we have no idea what to expect. It makes it difficult to prepare for set-pieces and stuff like that.

“We’ll just concentrate on our own game and hopefully get a positive result.”