Is the Petrofac Training Cup important to Rangers this season?

No, says Gary Keown

THIS low-level affair has been a source of humiliation for Rangers in recent seasons and there is no doubt that failure to win it at the fourth attempt would raise serious questions over Mark Warburton.

Does it matter in the grand scheme of things, though? Not really.

Warburton will be judged on getting Rangers out of the Ladbrokes Championship at the first time of asking and then making a fist of it against Celtic in the top flight.

If there is a judgement to be made on the progress being made under the new regime, perhaps the Scottish Cup, against higher-level opposition would be a better barometer.

Rangers fans would like to win the Petrofac Training Cup. Of course they would. It is a trophy the club has never won before.

However, it matters little in terms of the club's longer-term ambition of returning to a challenging position at the top of Scottish football. There are much bigger fish to fry than this.

Glasgow Times: Rangers manager Mark Warburton watches on

Yes, says Chris Jack

EVERY game, every competition is significant at Rangers and while the Petrofac Training Cup may not be the top priority this season, it is still an important goal to strive for.

Having suffered some of their biggest disappointments and most embarrassing results in this tournament in recent years, Rangers will hope it is fourth, and final, time lucky this term.

There is no reason why Mark Warburton’s side shouldn’t emerge victorious this season. Their ability is not in question, it is about their mentality.

Warburton will be keen to avoid the kind of results that were huge black marks on Ally McCoist’s report card during his time as boss.

He will hope that by the time he leaves Ibrox, he will have added far more prestigious titles to the Ibrox trophy cabinet than this silverware.

But, he has to start somewhere, and that is why he can’t afford a slip-up tonight against Livingston or for the remainder of the competition.

Win is vital to club and manager, says Neil Cameron

THE Petrofac Training Cup sounds like something your over-40s team play for in the Sunday pub league.

When Rangers players and the coaching staff talk of getting the club “back to where it belongs,” they are not thinking of a tournament which began life being sponsored by that place you go to buy tins of paint when the missus moans at you to do some DIY.

But the former B&Q Cup has to be won by Rangers this season. Why? Because if they make a mess of it tonight against Livingtson in the quarter-final at Ibrox, or further down the line, then this cup becomes a thing.

Mark Warburton hasn’t made too many wrong steps so far, but if he can’t even win the Petrofac Cup then what chance of him having a proper crack at the Premiership next season if, as it looks, Rangers win promotion.

Too harsh you say. Perhaps, but that’s what a few fans would fear.

The talk from within Ibrox is of a winning mentality. Keep chalking up the victories and when the club get back up, this mind-set will do them an awful lot of good.

So that’s why they need to win this competition. A cup is a cup and while the club would have had bigger days, it’s been a long time since they actually won a cup final.

But let’s just say they fall short. It might not have any effect on promotion, but to those on the outside it would give off the impression, rightly or wrongly, that this new-look Rangers haven’t quite shaken off that losing feeling.

Rangers’ failure in this supposedly diddy competition has been a reflection of how this club has been run over recent years. They could do with winning it – and then putting it behind them.

Glasgow Times:

Who cares? asks Scott Mullen

Rangers have failed to win the Petrofac Training Cup at every attempt, most notably two seasons ago when Raith Rovers beat them in the final. Is that a defeat that still cuts deep? I'd argue most Rangers fans couldn't even tell you who scored the winner (It was John Baird, by the way).

Listen, if you are in a cup, you obviously want to win it, otherwise what would be the point in entering? But Mark Warburton's legacy will not be judged on his ability to win or not win a cup, if being honest, not that many people really care about. There were many reasons Ally McCoist was eventually removed from his post, I don't think not winning the Petrofac Cup was one of the most significant.

Of course, winning becomes a habit and failure to do so tonight could bring a slight stumble in Rangers' trot towards the Championship finishing line. But it won't cause anyone inside Ibrox much long-term upset if that is the case.