Rangers: Hampden Park to host matches amid Ibrox works delay

Rangers will play their initial home matches at Hampden Park after reaching an agreement with the Scottish FA and SPFL.

A delay in materials arriving from Asia resulted in a hold-up on works to their Copland Road Stand at Ibrox, with chairman John Bennett apologising for the situation.

Bennett and the Gers board had been in talks with the Scottish FA last month, and reached an agreement that will see Philippe Clement's side play at the national stadium.

A joint statement from the SFA and SPFL said that agreement includes home matches until Scotland's Nations League game against Poland on September 5.

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As part of the deal, Rangers have committed to fund an accelerated pitch growth programme to ensure the Hampden surface is ready for the club's first home game.

What are Rangers' fixtures?

After their season opener at Hearts, the first of Rangers' moved games is on Saturday as Motherwell travel to the national stadium.

Ross County are next to visit Rangers at Hampden on August 24, with the Gers' next home league game not taking place until September 28 against Hibernian.

Their Champions League qualifier on August 13 will be impacted too, and should they reach the playoffs another crucial home game is scheduled for August 20/21.

The Gers are also in League Cup action, with a home draw in the Premier Sports Cup second round against St Johnstone on August 17, while the quarter-finals take place on September 21/22.

Talks had also taken place with Scottish Rugby over a potential move to Murrayfield in Edinburgh.

Rangers have been improving their disabled facilities at Ibrox and adding around 600 new seats to the Copland Stand.

Due to the move to Hampden Park, the SPFL have confirmed Queen's Park's game against Livingston in the Championship at the neighbouring City Stadium (formerly known as Lesser Hampden) will now be moved to Friday August 9, a day earlier than when Rangers host Motherwell in the Premiership.

Bennett apologises for stadium uncertainty

In a statement last week, chairman Bennett said: "First I'd like to apologise on behalf of the club for the uncertainty that this delayed project has caused to our season ticket holders, hospitality clients, partners and the wider support of this football club. 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. 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.

"I intend to give a fuller, personal update by the end of July."

Rangers' upcoming fixtures:

August 10 - Motherwell (h) - Scottish Premiership

August 13 - Dynamo Kyiv (h) - Champions League third-round qualifier

August 17 - St Johnstone (h) - Premier Sports Cup second-round

August 20/21 - Champions League play-off first-leg (tbc)*

August 24 - Ross County (h) - Scottish Premiership

August 27/28 - Champions League play-off second-leg (tbc)*

September 1 - Celtic (a) - Scottish Premiership - live on Sky Sports

September 14 - Dundee United (a) - Scottish Premiership

September 21/22 - Premier Sports Cup quarter-final (tbc)*

September 28 - Hibernian (h) - Scottish Premiership

*Fixture subject to progression in competition

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