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.
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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.
Rangers will not receive the full fixture list until shortly before the matches are made public by the League. As a result, more formal discussions around switches or alternative venues have yet to be held. Rangers will hold further talks with alternative venues and the SPFL as a matter of urgency, and will also have to keep UEFA updated on the situation ahead of the draw for their first tie in the coming weeks.
A club statement last Thursday read: “Rangers has recently been advised of a delay in a materials shipment from Asia which is likely to have an impact on the programme for the completion of the Copland Stand works.
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"It is therefore expected, unfortunately, that there will be an impact on matches at Ibrox at the beginning of the 2024/25 competitive season.
"The club has engaged with the SPFL and UEFA in order to review planned contingency arrangements. Naturally, everyone at Rangers is deeply disappointed with this news.
"The club is working intensively to ensure that all steps are taken to deliver the project at the earliest possible date and a further progress update will be issued to supporters in due course."
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