James Bisgrove on Rangers' transfer plans, safe standing and Souness

Here is everything he had to say.

How would you describe the challenges for you and the executive team?

It's an exciting one for us because we've got real confidence in the manager, Michael, the plan that he's presented in terms of the on-the-pitch opportunities in terms of recruitment, but also some of the off-the-pitch items that we're looking at. I don't think we underestimate it, I don't think we underplay it, but I think you we're now looking at it with optimism, with excitement but we're also cognisant that there's a lot of work to do over the next two to three months and the decisions that we take can define in the next two to three seasons. So we're feeling positive but we're ready to put the work in as well.

Do you need to put more resources into this summer than you would ideally want to?

I'm not sure it's putting in more resources. I think if you look at the evolution of the squad, there's obviously a greater number of players than usual that are going to leave Rangers for whatever reason so I don't think the resources are anything that's additional, but I think the level of transformation is probably going to be more than we've seen before. As I said earlier in the week, Michael together with John Park, our Chief Scout and Fraser Murray, the scouting data analytics manager, they've put together a plan that's been two or three months in the making, if not longer. Obviously, Ross Wilson was involved in that before he left us as well. The plan that they presented for us, it's exciting, and it's achievable but at the same time, we're going to need to be prepared to react to moments and that process because it's not a linear process because you're dealing with players that are considering what's right for them and their family. You're dealing with agents that are doing something in the best interest of the player, but also I've got a commercial lens on everything and other clubs, so it's not as straightforward as going through a tick list of what we need to deliver. But we've got the backing from the board, from the chairman, John Park, from all of the major investors to execute this plan. We've been at it now for a few weeks, we are well advanced in a number of those conversations and we're really focused to get it done because we know that's going to make the difference for Rangers next season.

Does the club need to work on not allowing assets to run down their contracts?

Potentially. It's been spoken about before by the manager, by Ross when he was here, we cannot insist, we cannot force a player to sign a contract. It’s their prerogative to take a decision. But what is important to us is getting the player trading model right, which means our recruitment decisions need to be spot on and needs to be backed up by great scouting and great analytics and they need to be the players that the managers identified and that the manager wants. But we also need to build value in the squad and I think you saw us execute that plan with Calvin Bassey leaving for Ajax and Joe Aribo and Nathan Patterson. So it's never a perfect art, but the player trading model is one that we believe in and we've shown that it can work at Rangers. We want to build value in the squad so that we can have that model, that's something that's got resources that are reinvested in the future.

Is there an appetite to restore the Old Firm away allocation?

I think it's definitely an area we're going to look at and we're going to have dialogue with all the right stakeholders, all the right authorities. Be that Police Scotland, be that Celtic and we hear and we recognise all the different viewpoints on that. So yes, absolutely we're going to look at that and then we'll see where those discussions go in terms of next season.

What was the rationale behind the sudden changes off the pitch?

I think the first thing to say there is there are a lot of people that have moved on from Rangers that had unbelievable contributions to the football club. The chairman, the board and myself, we want to thank all of those people for what they did over different periods of time, they'll always be welcomed back at Rangers. People left for different reasons, that's normal in life and in business and it just so happened that a number of those changes were quite truncated but I think what we see now is that's a platform for a positive evolution. We've spoken already about the on-the-pitch transformation and I think we've got a similar opportunity in terms of off-the-pitch. Roles such as the Sporting Director, Academy Director, the Commercial and Marketing Director, they are integral to our future strategy and the future success of the club. We're really positive and excited by some of the conversations that we're having in those areas, specifically the types of profiles that are putting themselves forward to join Rangers, I think that just shows the stature of the club and what an opportunity that is for different individuals. We’ve got to get those decisions right, we've got to take sound judgement on those, but I think we're looking at that in a really optimistic manner as well in terms of having the on-the-pitch and the off-the-pitch team in place to start next season from the strongest possible footing.

What is Donald Park’s legacy as Rangers chairman?

I think Douglas has a fantastic legacy over a long period of time. You know what the Park’s family have given Rangers is something that really should be admired by all supporters. From a personal perspective, Douglas, for me as a chairman was a brilliant support during a lot of different ups and downs at the club. Graham Park still remains on the club's board representing the Park’s family interests, so Douglas’ legacy will be 55 and will be a European final. The Park family will still be there backing this board and we've still got a really strong relationship with them.

Can you tell us more about safe standing?

Last week we had a quarterly RFC board meeting and we discussed some of the infrastructure work and one of the ones that we've confirmed is the improvement to the disabled facilities. That's a three-year plan in terms of the close seasons of 23, 24 and 25 to install new platforms for disabled supporters, but also new cantilevers on the Copeland and the Broomloan stands that would increase their capacity. What we are looking at is within those windows of works and it won't be this summer, but potentially next summer or the summer after. Can we use that as an opportunity for other stadium infrastructure projects? Safe standing is one that I personally think would bring a lot of positives in terms of stadium atmosphere. I've seen at other stadiums across Europe how beneficial that can be for the home fans that really want to get behind the team and they want to enjoy the match experience in that way. It's key that it's safe standing. That's where all the tests have been absolutely robust to prove that that's the case. What we will do in the next six months is revisit the feasibility of that from an infrastructure point of view. So working with the stadium architects and in parallel, we will also talk to the supporter groups. The supporter groups that have been lobbying, if you like, for want of a better phrase for safe standing, but also those that are concerned about it. They might be concerned because it means that their seat might not be their seat depending where we put it. We're going to have that dialogue but we're going to have it in a meaningful way and it's an area that I am supportive of and I know that others on the board are also supportive of it. I feel optimistic about it, but I can't give a guarantee until we've run through this process.

Are talks planned with Celtic to restore the away allocation?

There's no specific date in the diary for those talks, but I imagine during the summer and before the next Old Firm game that the dialogue will take place.

How do you solve that problem given season tickets will already be sold?

For next season, the season tickets have not been sold in the corner of the Govan stand where the allocation was previously. So for next season, we do have the opportunity if we decide to reinstate the previous allocation, which I think was seven, eight hundred. That’s almost our maximum for next season and then beyond that it's a broader conversation but we need to have the dialogue with those stakeholders because there are a lot of different views on it but we will definitely have that conversation.

Do you see a time when the full allocation will be given?

I would struggle to commit to that now because there are so many aspects to that conversation.

How do you give Michael Beale the sources required to bridge the gap with Celtic?

I think it goes back to my previous answer in terms of the recruitment and the plan for the squad this summer. If we get the recruitment decisions right and you don't have to look too far back to the January transfer window and the acquisitions of Nico Raskin and Todd Cantwell and the positive impact that they've had on the squad. If we can get those recruitment decisions right, then we've got a lot of optimism and a lot of belief that the Rangers team that will be on the park next season will be a winning Rangers team. Traditionally, Rangers has been the dominant team in Scotland. Clearly, that hasn't been the case last season or the season before, but we've got a lot of belief in the manager. We've got a lot of belief in the strategy of the club, the scouting team and that's why we're optimistic. But we'll see what next season brings, but I think it's right that we are positive and optimistic because that plan is in place and because we've already made good inroads in terms of executing that plan.

Are you looking for external funding that could help Michael?

For now, the plan that Michael presented has the board's approval and has the full support of the board. That plan is obviously a recruitment plan in terms of the number of players and the strategy behind that, the board are supportive of that. The chairman has supported the plan, the investors have supported the plan and the directors have supported the plan so that's the focus at the moment, but the support is there to deliver that plan.

Are you currently seeking any further investment?

As I said, because the board and the investors have supported that plan, the backing is there for it to be executed with the board and the investors that are in place.

Could you bring us up to speed with regards to transfer targets?

It’s not for me to comment on specific names, but what I can give you is the overarching club strategy. Within that plan for summer recruitment, we've already made, I would say positive inroads in terms of some of those conversations. I don't think we're too far away from being able to make announcements and to communicate that specifically but I think we need to recognise the season hasn't finished. It's a long road until we get to pre-season and next season so there’ll need to be an element of patience before that plan is completely executed. But as I said, we're already up, up and running. We've had a good start and I think there'll be some exciting news to share very soon.

READ MORE: Rangers' win over Celtic is start of Michael Beale's brighter future

Do you think Rangers could become the dominant force in Scottish football next season?

I'm optimistic. I think Rangers, over the period of 150 years, over the history of Scottish football, have been the dominant team. I think it's right that supporters would expect that this board and this leadership to have that as our ambition. We've got confidence in Michael, as the coach and we've got confidence in his plan, in terms of the recruitment for the summer.

Can you tell us the purpose of the dialogue with Graeme Souness?

Graeme doesn't need me to say, but Graeme’s an absolute legend of the football club. He's an icon and I think our strategy will be to make sure that we've got good relationships with a lot of our club legends. I spoke earlier this week, I think it was even yesterday to Richard Gough and text with Kevin Thomson and Craig Moore so it's important that we've got those touch points with people that are so, so important to the clubs' history. Graeme was in Glasgow for a private engagement and dropped in for a coffee. It was an informal conversation because we want to maintain that relationship. Hopefully, in the future, he'll be involved in more opportunities in an ambassadorial sense. I think that's for Graeme to decide but I think the extent of the rumours probably went a little bit further than the reality on that one.

Have you discussed an ambassadorial role with him?

Not specifically. As I said, it was an informal chance just to reconnect because Graeme happened to be in Glasgow and he loves to come into Ibrox. We had a coffee, we had a great conversation and that was all for now.

What would it mean if someone like him was involved in some capacity?

I think as I've said, for all of the ex-players, you look at John Greig, the greatest ever Ranger is still there every day on a match day. To have our ex-players that are supportive of the club is important because they understand the club, the supporters connect with them so absolutely we want to make sure we keep those relationships strong.

Do you find the supporters are content with the Old Firm allocation the way it is?

I don't think there's any pressure. I certainly haven't felt any pressure from the authorities. But I'm transitioning into the role, so maybe that pressure will come at one point. We will take the decision that is right for Rangers and is right for our supporters. So as I said, there will be that dialogue. I think the question is, is there a chance to go back to the traditional allocation of the 8000? I think that's very unlikely at the moment. We need to see where the conversations go, but I don't think that's something that looks imminent.

Do you see this year as being pivotal to Rangers running as a normal football club once again rather than depending on the injection of funds from shareholders?

Yeah, I do. I think last year our financial performance was the strongest for a very long time. We had a record revenue, we returned to profitability. We're still really fortunate that we've got investors that are prepared to back the club and they're ambitious in terms of where we want to go. We want to operate in a sustainable way and that's how we will set up and set up the business in the future. We've got those revenue pillars, the season ticket money, the European Revenue, player trading, commercial, all of those areas we are seeking to maximise. As we do that we will, we'll leave the recovery period behind and then it's a growth trajectory from there on in for Rangers.