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St Johnstone manager Steve Lomas claims the uncertainty surrounding Rangers is having an impact on his long-term planning.

Despite the Blue Knights tabling a bid on Friday, there is no guarantee Rangers will exit administration soon and manager Ally McCoist has broached the prospect of moving into the Third Division next season if the club does not survive in its present form.

Lomas is focused on helping Saints seal a European place, with a huge match at Motherwell tomorrow, but he would also like to have players secured for next season.

With Rangers in crisis, and Scottish Premier League clubs set to vote on financial fair play proposals on Monday, Lomas feels unable to do so.

"There's obviously a lot of unrest at the Glasgow Rangers situation," Lomas told STV. "It's a difficult time.

"We are trying to get contract offers to players that we want but it is probably taking a bit longer than is ideal.

"You would like to have the ones you would want for next season tied up already.

"Unfortunately with the current climate and the Rangers shadow hanging over everything it's probably why it has taken longer."

St Johnstone's 2-0 defeat by Dundee United last weekend has made them outsiders for the second Champions League spot, sitting five points behind third-placed Motherwell with four games left.

Saints also trail United and are only two points above Hearts, who could deny them a Europa League place, but a win at Fir Park tomorrow would keep their hopes of the major prize alive.

Lomas, who has top scorer Francisco Sandaza suspended, said: "It's a big week but it's a great week, this is what you want to be in for, big games, you don't want the season petering out.

"That's what we've been trying to get across to the boys that if we win tomorrow we are right back in the mix again so it's a massive incentive for us."