‘Crisis talks’ – Rangers chairman close to confirming Ibrox update following Hampden Park talks
Rangers are scheduled to conduct additional ‘crisis talks’ this week about renting the Scottish National Stadium Hampden Park for the ‘foreseeable future’. There are growing concerns that the Gers and their fans will be unable to enter Ibrox until at least October due to ongoing refurbishment work in the Copeland Stand. According to the latest reports from Record Sport, a delegation from Ibrox visited Hampden last week and was given a comprehensive tour of the available facilities, and Rangers chairman John Bennett is hopeful of reaching an agreement that will provide his club with a temporary home.
Scotland’s national rugby stadium, Murrayfield, is also reported to be an option, although Hampden remains the leader as talks ‘gather steam’ over the next few days.
According to the sources, Bennett could make a formal declaration as soon as next week in order to keep Gers fans informed and alleviate their displeasure. It was only last month that the Govan-based club announced that their home would be unfit for purpose when the 2024/25 Scottish Premiership season began, and while a temporary home may be nearing completion, the club’s chairman will almost certainly be unable to provide a confirmed date for when the refurbishments will be finished.
Former chief executive James Bisgrove had been the initial mastermind behind the project, but he has since left for a new role in Saudi Arabia.
The latest delays are understood to have resulted from materials needed for the renovation job not being ordered on time, subsequently meaning they are unlikely to arrive in Glasgow until August. It is added that there are unprecedented logjams in the global shipping industry caused, in part, by the ongoing conflicts in both the Middle East and Ukraine.
This has resulted in further delays to the work that was scheduled to commence immediately following Rangers’ final home game of the season, a 5-2 victory over Dundee on May 14, and is now unlikely to be completed within the next three months. Philippe Clement’s side will begin the new season against Hearts at Tynecastle on August 3, followed by a home game against Motherwell the following week. Rangers will, however, face two rounds of qualifiers for the expanded UEFA Champions League competition, which begins on September 17 and 19.
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