Rangers will step up discussions with the SPFL and potential stadium hosts in the coming days in an attempt to find a new home for the start of the Premiership campaign.
The Rangers Review reported last week that the Ibrox board had been left facing the nightmare scenario of being forced to hit the road for the opening weeks of the season following lengthy delays to renovation works in the Copland Stand.
An issue in the delivery of steelwork from Asia has thrown the project – which will see enhanced disabled facilities and hundreds of new seats installed – into chaos and left executive chairman John Bennett facing huge headaches on and off the pitch. One senior member of staff was subsequently dismissed following the revelation that will come at a significant financial cost to the club.
And boss Philippe Clement faces a treacherous start to his title challenge as Rangers seek an alternative venue for their ‘home’ fixtures in the 2024/25 campaign and lose the benefit of the Ibrox factor domestically and in Europe. Rangers could face nine matches in August if they progress through the third qualifying round in the Champions League and are handed a home tie in the League Cup.
But it is understood that no solution has yet been finalised as Rangers work through contingency plans that are likely to see them play outside of Glasgow during the first weeks of the term. Supporters reacted with fury at the news they will not be able to take their seats at Ibrox and are still in the dark on the eve of the fixture schedule being released by the SPFL on Thursday morning.