Le Guen starts at Fir Park

Rangers manager Paul Le Guen will begin his new challenge with an opening Bank of Scotland Premier League date against Maurice Malpas’ Motherwell at Fir Park on July 30.

The Frenchman replaced Alex McLeish at the helm at the end of last season but he has already signalled his intentions with the signings of Lionel Letizi, Libor Sionko and Karl Svensson William Stanger, Antoine Ponroy and Dean Furman.

But Malpas will also be desperate to make a big start after being promoted to manager following the departure of Terry Butcher to Sydney FC in the summer.

Champions Celtic start the defence of the championship, which they won at a canter last time out, at home to Kilmarnock on July 29.

They have signed Jiri Jarosik, Gary Caldwell, Kenny Miller, Derek Riordan and Evander Sno but have lost influential midfielder Roy Keane while the futures of skipper Neil Lennon, John Hartson and Stilian Petrov remain unclear.

But Gordon Strachan’s men have a tough test on their hands in their second game when they travel to last season’s runners-up Hearts, who finished above Rangers to claim their place in the qualifying stages of the Champions League.

The ambitious Jambos, who have been tipped to name former Rangers star Alexei Mikhailichenko as their new head coach this week, will be keen to show last season’s high SPL finish and Tennent’s Scottish Cup triumph was no fluke.

They begin their quest for the title with a trip to Dunfermline, who escaped relegation last term.

Majority shareholder Vladimir Romanov has yet to open his cheque book in the summer but he has promised to make signings before the campaign starts.

Celtic and Rangers will not clash until September 23 at Parkhead, while the first Edinburgh derby is on October 14 when Hearts meet Tony Mowbray’s youngsters at Easter Road.

Division One champions St Mirren face a tiring start to their top-flight status with a journey north to Charlie Christie’s Inverness Caledonian Thistle but they will be making the short trip to Parkhead for a date with the Hoops on August 12.

The Highands club will also be looking to put on a good early show against Celtic when they visit on August 20, six days before they go to Tynecastle.

Hibernian and Aberdeen have big hopes for the new campaign and they meet in an opening-day clash in the capital.

Kilmarnock, who finished in the top six last time out, face a tough start with games against the champions, Hibernian and Rangers in their first five matches.

Dundee United manager Craig Brewster is likely to be facing another battle against relegation and they open up at home to Falkirk, who were also glad to avoid the trap door last season.