RANGERS suffered a major blow yesterday, when Australia announced they plan to play their eight World Cup qualifying ties in March - that means the certain loss of defenders Craig Moore and Tony Vidmar at a most crucial stage of the season for the Ibrox club.

The Australians originally planned to play the matches against various Pacific Island nations during the month of June, avoiding any clash with European clubs, but with the Confederations Cup - between the top nations of each FIFA area - now scheduled for June, the Aussies want to switch their World Cup ties to March.

They will now attempt to cram their round-robin matches against Tonga, Fiji, American Samoa, and Samoa into one month.

Manager Frank Farina said: ''I am trying to push for the World Cup games to be played in March against the island states and the final, presumably against New Zealand, at a later date.

''We have to wait until FIFA decide when the Confederations Cup will be played.''

Farina can insist upon the release of the Rangers players because the ties are World Cup qualifiers.

Australia qualified for the Confedaration Cup earlier this year by winning the Oceania Nations Cup and will face the likes of France and Canada.

All their World Cup qualifying ties are to be played in Australia and they are expected to cruise through to face New Zealand in a play-off, with the winners facing the fifth-placed side in the South American group for a place at World Cup 2002.

Meantime, Rangers striker Seb Rozental has been given 10 months to clinch a move out of Scotland.

Argentinian club Independiente have agreed to take the Chilean on loan, and the South Americans have told Rozental he will be kept until July 2001 - giving him almost a year in the shop window.

Rozental, who has seen his Rangers career destroyed by injuries, passed a preliminary medical earlier this week and will sign after Chile's World Cup match against Brazil.

n FORMER Rangers midfielder Derek McInnes last night complete his #450,000 switch to West Bromwich Albion.

The 29-year-old has taken a 60 per cent wage cut on the #11,000-a-week he earned at Toulouse - a contract further boosted by a house and car.

But McInnes was keen to link up with manager Gary Megson, whom he worked with on loan at Stockport last season. He said: ''Gary seems to get the best out of me and I hope the three years at Albion are as good as that three-month loan spell.''

n HIBERNIAN plan to invite David Zitelli back to Edinburgh in a bid to thrash out the fine print for his transfer to Easter Road. The 31-year-old is currently back in France as Hibs and Strasbourg negotiate suitable compensation for his release.

Easter Road managing director, Rod Petrie stated yesterday there was no rush to finalise the deal, with Zitelli unlikely to feature this weekend against Dundee.

However, the club are hopeful that a face-to-face meeting with the striker will secure his signature.

Meanwhile, Hibs have scaled down their original financial demands from St Mirren for former Easter Road striker Barry Lavety.

The club wrote a percentage fee into their contract with St Mirren, which entitled them to a cut if the Love Street side signed Lavety long term. Saints have constantly stated Hibs' demands were too high, despite agreeing to the terms last October.

However, Hibs have now moved from their original position to accommodate the Paisley club. They are now waiting to hear if St Mirren will sign Lavety after he recovers from injury.