Rangers hit by new financial hammer blow – sources
Rangers will be at the financial mercy of Scottish Rugby Union {SRU) if the club are required to use Murrayfield for fixtures in 2024-25.
That is according to Football Insider journalist and Scottish expert Daniel Bowers, speaking to Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast.
It has been strongly suggested that Rangers will play at least the first handful of competitive matches in 2024-25 at Murrayfield in Edinburgh, hinted by the arrangement of a pre-season friendly with Manchester United being hosted at the venue on 20 July.
However, this could be seen as a pay-day opportunity for Scottish Rugby Union if a potential deal has to be struck with the Gers, recognising the club’s desperate situation.
Another mooted option, Hampden Park, is out of commission for at least the first few weeks of the new season due to the relaying of the playing surface following summer concerts.
This is combined with the required usage of the stadium by Queens Park, whose adjacent smaller venue is unavailable.
Rangers may have to hand over huge sum for Murrayfield
Rangers are now essentially at the mercy of any stadium owners as the season edges closer.
Bowers claims the inevitable solution may have to be to bite the bullet with SRU and use Murrayfield until the “shambles” is dealt with in renovating Ibrox.
It is believed SRU would look for a considerable pay packet, plus profits on ticket revenue, merchandise and other matchday costs.
Keith Wyness, former chief of Aberdeen, exclusively told Football Insider [27 June] that Rangers cannot even rule out spending the entire 2024-25 season at Murrayfield, with material shipping delays from Asia distorting the whole timescale of the redevelopment plans.
Wyness labelled the home of Scottish Rugby as the “only sensible option” amid the chaos regarding Ibrox, with supporters fast losing patience with the club and its partners.
It is uncertain at present how Rangers could go about striking a deal, but with the Scottish Premiership fixtures announced earlier this week and Champions League qualifiers to come, time is ebbing away.
In other news, James Tavernier has received an “astronomical” offer of a reunion with former Rangers boss Steven Gerrard in Saudi Arabia.
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