Rangers board back Ibrox and Auchenhowie development blueprint

The Light Blues board, headed by chairman John Bennett, have already signed off on significant plans to overhaul the disabled facilities on offer at Ibrox and work will commence on the next phase of that project at the end of the current Premiership campaign.

And The Rangers Review understands that discussions have also taken place regarding more extensive expansion plans as well as proposed upgrades around the stadium footprint as Bennett and his fellow investors seek to upgrade the Ibrox experience once again.

That investment will also extend to the club’s training base in Milngavie as work continues to ensure the Auchenhowie facility – which recently hosted the England national side ahead of their friendly with Scotland – remains one of the finest in the British game.

The Rangers Review revealed last December that the board had signed off on ambitious plans to provide class-leading disabled facilities that will see extensive work undertaken in the Copland and Broomloan Stands. Sources have stated that such a transformation has become a necessity and is the right thing to do for Rangers as a club.

Two disabled platforms will be installed in parallel with a new cantilever structure behind both goals as work commences as soon as possible next summer. It is believed the overhaul is part of a single-digit multi-million-pound investment and any downturn in terms of revenue as a result of lost seats will be offset by the increase in the overall capacity to around 51,500 as the number of wheelchair-accessible spaces rises to 270.

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The issue of disabled facilities at Ibrox has been a major talking point at a succession of Annual General Meetings and the current plans are part of a wider discussion about how Rangers maximise the stadium in terms of supporter experience and revenue generation.

The board have already invested several million pounds in projects such as the development of New Edmiston House, which includes a club museum, and the Blue Sky Lounge. A sports bar – on the site of the old megastore at Ibrox – is due to be opened next year and it is understood that Rangers are working through permit application red tape with Glasgow City Council as they seek to create another financially beneficial space for supporters to use on a matchday.

And discussions have already taken place over potential future projects once the disabled facilities have been given a welcome upgrade over the summers of 2024 and 2025.

It is understood that includes the creation of a safe standing area within Ibrox as the club hierarchy assess all options for future redevelopment. Issues such as sight lines as a result of the new cantilever sections are under consideration and the contractors and project team tasked with erecting the disabled facilities have been given a safe-standing feasibility project as part of their brief.

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Fans who will be impacted by the upcoming works will be fully consulted by the club and Greg Marshall, the supporters liaison officer, and head of customer service, David Milburn, have already held initial discussions with some of those who will be affected. In the event that safe standing plans are progressed, that procedure will be repeated to ensure fans are fully involved in the process.

James Bisgrove, the chief executive officer, outlined more ambitious and longer-term redevelopment plans – which could include filling in the corners where the screens are at present or extending the Copland and Broomloan – at a fans’ forum event several months ago. But supporters can expect to see upgrades around Ibrox in the near future as cladding works on the Copland and Broomloan are completed over the winter break, while the beams in the Main Stand are also due to be cleaned in the coming months.

The design process has also started on a significant project to renew the tarnished tarmac around the outskirts of the stadium. The need to replace the surface has been acknowledged for some time and a phased approach will be taken to bring the Ibrox footprint up to standard.

The board have made a capital expenditure commitment to various projects around Ibrox and will continue to invest in off-field infrastructure as well as putting money into the playing squad in an attempt to deliver silverware in the coming seasons. The target remains for the club to operate on a break-even basis going forward and for Rangers to become less reliant on outside investment from Bennett and the likes of John Halsted, Stuart Gibson and Julian Wolhardt.

As well as on the park, money has also been spent behind the scenes at Auchenhowie in recent months. Work on the undersoil heating system was carried out over the summer and the benefits of that labour, plus the purchase of new lighting rigs, will be seen during the winter as Rangers look to keep themselves in contention for major honours during the hectic festive schedule.

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The fabric of the building is also being assessed as part of a process to upgrade office spaces but the most telling work in a six-figure expenditure will come in the football department as Dr Mark Waller, the director of medical and performance, oversees the installation of new fitness and rehabilitation equipment as Rangers continue to invest in technology to aid their performance on the field.

That is the area, of course, that supporters are most concerned about and the pursuit of Premiership titles, domestic cups and European progression must always sit as the main priority and the be-all and end-all for everyone associated with Rangers.

The coming months will determine if the cash put into Beale’s side pays dividends in that regard come the end of the campaign and the board will expect to see a return on their investment.

The benefits of the work off the pitch will take longer to come to fruition. Like every decision at Ibrox, each must be time, effort and money well spent.