Rangers ‘unable to fix a date’ for Ibrox return

Scottish Premiership club Rangers is close to finalising a deal to begin the coming season at Hampden Park as it admitted it cannot give a date as to when redevelopment work at Ibrox will be completed.

The club announced late last month that supply chain issues meant that the Copland Stand project would not be ready by the start of the 2024-25 season.

For weeks, rumours have abounded that the club could begin the new campaign at the home of the Scottish national football team. Rangers has now confirmed it is in the final stages of negotiations with the Scottish FA to secure Hampden Park as its temporary home until the Ibrox works are complete.

Rangers chairman John Bennett said: “While the ongoing delay means that the club is unable to fix a date for our return to Ibrox, we anticipate that this will become clearer upon delivery of the necessary materials to Glasgow.

“Rangers thanks the Scottish FA and the SPFL for their strong support in working to this solution.

“The club wholeheartedly appreciates the continued patience of our supporters while we work through this most trying of situations.”

Murray said a further update would be given later in July, with Rangers due to begin the Scottish Premiership season on August 3.

Copland Stand work

The Copland Stand work includes the erection of a new cantilever with 1,000 extra seats. A number of new accessible viewing positions are to be added to the rear of the Copland Front, increasing overall wheelchair-accessible spaces to more than 150.

The supply chain issues relate to materials being shipped from Asia.

Bennett added: “The number of variables in this situation has made it extremely difficult to bring the one thing we all crave – certainty.

“Nevertheless, we are closing in on the most immediate solution – a suitable venue at which to fulfil our fixtures and house our support.”