ian1964

Agree with this, it is a perfect opportunity for the club to address this.

Rangers in talks over Ibrox capacity increase as Stewart Robertson details ambitious plan The club have taken consultation on extending the stadium to house 55,000 supporters. Rangers are in talks with consultants about increasing the capacity of Ibrox to cope with fan demand. The club are exploring the possibility of modernising the stadium to house up to 55,000 supporters in the coming seasons. That’s around 5,000 more than at present, but record season ticket sales of 47,000 and a waiting list of over 15,000 has prompted the Light Blues to call in engineers. There will be no radical overhaul of the stadium, such as new tiers on any of the existing stands. However, a range of options are under discussion, which includes extending the areas between the bottom and the top of the Copland and Broomloan Stands to fit additional rows of seats. Talks are also ongoing about modernising the back of the Govan Stand, currently used for corporate boxes, as well as the space currently occupied by the LED screens. The most ambitious project would be lowering the pitch again, which last happened in the mid-nineties, although the level of the water table so close to the Clyde could be an issue. Rangers managing director Stewart Robertson said: “It’s something we’re looking at just now. We won’t see anything as grand as another tier built on top of one of the existing stands. “However, we are exploring ways we can add additional seating into the stadium. I don’t see it being another 10,000, it would maybe be low thousands. “There are feasibility works going on at this moment and we’re probably two or three months away from knowing whether it will be possible or not. “We’re working with a couple of consultancy firms to see what might be possible and to work out the financials on it. “Ultimately, if the financial model doesn’t work and we don’t get payback on it then you could question why we’d would do it as it’s money that could be used elsewhere. “However, we’re keen to explore it and see if it’s possible because the demand from fans has been phenomenal, absolutely incredible. “There is no sign of that lessening in the short term and if we can do it it’s another investment to go into the club.” Ibrox became the first modern, virtually all-seated stadium in British football history when it was extensively remodelled after the disaster of 1971. Three new stands were opened in 1981, funded by the success of the club’s pools, and the club deck was added on top of the main stand in 1991 with almost half the £20 million cost coming from a fan debenture scheme. The new Rangers board have spent extensively in the last three years bringing the ground back up to shape after it was neglected during the club’s recent financial crisis. Robertson added: “Several millions have been invested and a lot of the work is unseen. “If you don’t spend money on your house for a number of years you end up having to invest heavily and that’s the stage we’re at. “We’ve done the necessary stuff over the last couple of years and now we’re onto the enhancements for the hospitality areas and the players’ lounge and lots of other different projects, with more to come.” https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/rangers-talks-over-ibrox-capacity-18783817

Just a wee reminder!. RANGERS Development squad are to face Manchester United in a friendly match to open the prestigious SuperCupNI. The game will kick-off at 5.30pm and will be broadcast live on the BBC Sport Northern Ireland website and on the BBC Sport app. https://rangers.co.uk/news/academy-news/gers-to-open-supercupni/

https://news.sky.com/story/sports-direct-faces-605m-tax-bill-and-terminal-problems-at-house-of-fraser-11771188

ABUSE AT CELTIC BOYS CLUB EDM #2652 Share Tabled 24 July 2019 2017-19 Session That this House notes the persistent calls for an inquiry into claims that young boys were abused at Celtic Boys Club over a number of years; acknowledges that several men have been convicted for sex offences while working at the Boys Club; and supports the calls made in recent weeks for Celtic FC to follow clubs such as Manchester City and agree that an inquiry would be a suitable if long overdue attempt to bring some form of closure to survivors. https://edm.parliament.uk/early-day-motion/53196/abuse-at-celtic-boys-club

FRESH INVESTIGATION Probe launched in US over ‘sex attack’ on Celtic Boys Club player during trip led by serial paedo Frank Cairney Alice Walker 26 Jul 2019, 13:49 POLICE in the United States are investigating an alleged sex attack on a Celtic Boys Club player during a trip led by paedo coach Frank Cairney. Detectives have launched a probe this week after receiving fresh information about the Celtic Boys Club’s tour in America in 1991. Serial beast Cairney, 84, was jailed in February for preying on eight boys in his care in the 1980s. He led a group of 20 youngsters to New Jersey in the summer of 1991 to mark 25 years of the Celtic Boys Club. And it’s emerged cops in the US state are now looking into claims of an alleged sex attack during the trip, The Times reports. Former Celtic chairman Jack McGinn admitted he was told that Cairney had abused a teenager on a tour to New Jersey in 1991 - 30 years before he was nailed for his crimes. It promoted Mr McGinn to call a meeting at Parkhead where he accepted Cairney's resignation. He claims he urged Boys Club officials to alert police but they did not, allowing Cairney to walk free, while "pressure at work" was cited as the reason for his departure. George King, chief of police for Kearny, New Jersey, said: “The Kearny police department detective bureau is reviewing this information and is in consultation with the Hudson County prosecutors office.” We told in February how Celtic face being sued in America amid claims Cairney abused kids on footie trips. Cairney was convicted of sickening attacks on young boys while running St Columba's Boys Guild in Viewpark, Lanarkshire, and the under-16 team at Celtic BC. Cairney is one of four paedophiles to be exposed for abusing kids at Celtic Boys Club. Founder Jim Torbett, 71, was jailed for a second time over the abuse of young players in November last year. Jim McCafferty admitted preying on ten teenage boys between 1972 and 1996. Former chairman Gerald King, 66, was also convicted earlier this year. Celtic has been conducting an internal investigation into abuse at the Boys Club for two years. https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/news/scottish-news/4531154/probe-launched-in-us-over-sex-attack-on-celtic-boys-club-player-during-trip-led-by-serial-paedo-frank-cairney/

Rangers To Open SuperCupNI RANGERS Development squad are to face Manchester United in a friendly match to open the prestigious SuperCupNI. The game will kick-off at 5.30pm and will be broadcast live on the BBC Sport Northern Ireland website and on the BBC Sport app. https://rangers.co.uk/news/academy-news/gers-to-open-supercupni/

RANGERS’ Europa League second round qualifier against Progres Niederkorn is LIVE on RangersTV everywhere in the world. https://rangers.co.uk/news/rangers-tv/progres-clash-live-on-rtv/

Rangers still have cash to splash insists Stewart Robertson as Daniel Candeias fee is revealed The Ibrox managing director admits Steven Gerrard still has money to spend if he wants it. Stewart Robertson revealed funds are still available to boost Steven Gerrard’s Rangers squad. The Ibrox managing director insists the board have not finished their spending if the manager identifies new targets. He also claims the club are in no rush to cash in on prized assets such as Alfredo Morelos and James Tavernier, even if they are looking to increase their income in time from player sales. Robertson was speaking as Daniel Candeias completed his move to Turkish side Genclerbirligi on a two-year deal for a fee believed to be around £250,000. Rangers have forked out more than £6million this summer on deals that include £650,000 for George Edmundson and £3.5m for Filip Helander, while costs associated with Joe Aribo’s transfer from Charlton were approximately £2m. Gerrard is eyeing a ninth summer signing and Robertson, re-elected to the SPFL board yesterday, pledged he’ll continue to be supported financially. He said: “It is down to the guys identifying who they might want to bring in and bringing that to the board but, absolutely, funds are available. “I am not saying it will be this window or the next, but at some point there has to be transfer income built into the business model. “If you look at clubs at our level in the European Club Association, the average percentage of revenue that comes from transfers is 28 per cent. “Last year ours was about seven per cent. “If we are to compete on a level playing field without relying on the investors and the board, that is a key part of the business model, as well as bringing players through the academy.” Rangers have told players such as Kyle Lafferty, Graham Dorrans, Eros Grezda, Jason Holt and Joe Dodoo they are all surplus to requirements but so far have not attracted buyers. Robertson added: “The manager has been quite open - the squad is bigger than that which would allow everyone game time. “Therefore, some of the boys will want to get it elsewhere. We are working with a couple of players at the moment to see if they can get something with other clubs. “Signing players is a bit like picking shares. You hope you will get them all right but you don’t tend to. “There is an element of portfolio approach and you just have to hope you don’t make too many mistakes. “It’s very difficult when you sign players because they might be coming from a foreign country, with or without their family. So there can be questions about how their family settles. “Some of the unknowns can be the things that trip someone up and that’s why it might not work in certain cases.” Robertson has returned to the SPFL board after Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell stepped down, in a pattern now established between the Old Firm clubs. He said: “Clubs are more collegiate and there are more conversations going on than previously. “As a result, it is maybe less important to be on the board than it was three or four years ago. Scottish football is actually in as stable a position as it has been for some time.” Robertson was speaking as Rangers launched their new campaign, ‘Everywhere Anywhere, Everyone Anyone’ aimed at united the different communities supporting the club. He added: “It is 2019. We want to have a modern football club and make sure that everyone feels welcome when they come to Ibrox regardless of race, religion or sexuality. It is the right thing to do.” https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/rangers-still-cash-splash-insists-18652844?2