Rangers Chairman John Bennett has expressed hope that the club will be able to play their home games at Ibrox Stadium again after the next international break. However, he admits that there is a possibility that the return may be delayed beyond the end of September. The club had arranged to play their August fixtures at Hampden Park due to delays in the construction work on the Copland Stand at Ibrox. The delay was caused by the late shipment of materials, with two more shipments expected in August, subject to potential delays.
As it stands, Rangers’ only scheduled home match in September is against Hibernian on the 28th. Bennett acknowledged that the timeline for the return to Ibrox is currently an aspiration and there is still uncertainty surrounding it. He expressed frustration at having to provide caveats but said that it is necessary given the circumstances. Bennett thanked the Scottish FA for allowing Rangers to use Hampden Park as their temporary home and hopes to provide an update to season ticket-holders about seating arrangements at Hampden later in the week.
Bennett also spoke about the club’s finances and his mission to rid the club of pre-player trading losses. He stated that the current losses of £10.5 million until June 2023 are unsustainable and action needs to be taken to eradicate them. He emphasized the need for a cultural change within the club to prevent wasteful spending and expressed that progress has already been made in that regard. However, he acknowledged that more work needs to be done.
On the pitch, Rangers have made six signings so far in the summer transfer window. Five first-team members left the club under freedom of contract, while two loan players returned to their parent clubs and one player was sold to Twente. Bennett revealed that the club has committed to £11.5 million in transfer payables so far in 2024, excluding costs associated with loan deals. He also discussed the appointment of manager Philippe Clement, who replaced Michael Beale in October. Bennett revealed that during their May review session, they realized that the club is facing a bigger rebuild than they initially thought. He stated that Clement is fully committed to the task and believes that Rangers need to recruit for both the short and long term to avoid repeating past mistakes.
Bennett acknowledged that recruiting only for the short term has caused problems for the club in the past, leading to frequent changes in management. He expressed his desire to end this cycle and ensure stability at the managerial level. He emphasized that the rebuilding process will take time and cannot be accomplished in just one transfer window. Bennett’s insights provide valuable context for Rangers’ current situation, giving fans and stakeholders a better understanding of the challenges the club faces and the steps being taken to overcome them.