Rangers chairman John Bennett has stated that the exact timeline for Ibrox to be ready for matches is uncertain. Currently, the team is scheduled to play at Hampden Park throughout August while awaiting the completion of building work on their stadium. Bennett has provided an updated timeline, suggesting that the club might have to play a third ‘home’ league game against Hibernian on September 28 at the National Stadium, along with up to two European matches, due to delays in the delivery of building materials for the Copland Road stand.
Despite expectations that the issue will be resolved by then, Bennett has not guaranteed that Ibrox will be ready by the end of September. As a result of these delays, Rangers will host Motherwell on August 10 and Ross County on August 24 at Hampden, as well as a likely Champions League qualifier against Dynamo Kyiv.
Bennett disclosed that only one of three expected shipments of materials has arrived in Glasgow, with the others scheduled for the second and third weeks of August. This uncertainty led Bennett to state, “the one thing we crave is certainty and I can’t give it.” He expressed frustration over the situation, hoping to have fans back at Ibrox by the end of September but acknowledging it could be delayed further.
Bennett apologized to supporters for the inconvenience and confusion, emphasizing that the club’s staff are working tirelessly to complete the project, particularly for the benefit of disabled fans. He explained the decision to use Hampden Park instead of Murrayfield, prioritizing the convenience of season ticket holders and minimizing disruption.
Bennett also thanked the Scottish Football Association (SFA) and the Scottish Professional Football League (SPFL) for their support. Although the match against Motherwell at Hampden is imminent, season ticket holders are still awaiting seating arrangements, with an update expected by the end of the week.
In a comprehensive interview with the club’s media channel, Bennett addressed the club’s finances, stressing the need for sustainable financial management and reducing pre-player trading losses, which stood at £10.5 million as of June 2023. He endorsed manager Philippe Clement’s approach of long-term recruitment, aiming to avoid the problems caused by focusing solely on short-term gains.