Ross County will be back at Hampden for the season's finale on 15 May

By Andy Harris

Ross County will be playing in Europe next season if they win the Scottish Cup or Dundee United finish second in the Scottish Premier League.

The First Division side from Dingwall meet United at Hampden on 15 May, having already dumped Hibernian and Celtic out of the tournament.

United host Celtic on Sunday and trail the second-placed visitors by seven points, with four SPL games remaining.

The SPL winners and runners-up will qualify for the Champions League.

United, who sit comfortably in third place, are already guaranteed a Europa League spot via their league position.

Scottish Football Association spokeswomen Clare Bodel, seeking to clarify the situation, said: "If a team wins the Scottish Cup and finishes first or second in the SPL (taking one of the Champions League places), the beaten cup finalist goes into the Europa League through the Scottish Cup place.

"But if a team wins the Scottish Cup and finishes in third or fourth place (one of the Europa League qualifying positions) they qualify for the Europa League and the final place goes to the team that finishes fifth in the SPL.

"For Ross County to qualify for the Europa League, one of the following scenarios must arise: a) Ross County win the Scottish Cup or b) Dundee United win the Scottish Cup and finish second in the Clydesdale Bank Scottish Premier League."

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