This piece is an extract from yesterday's Rangers Insider newsletter, which is emailed out at 5pm every weekday with a round-up of the day's top stories and exclusive analysis from the Rangers Review team.

To receive our full and free newsletter, sign up by clicking here.  

The issue of safe standing is an emotive one when it comes to football, and in particular Rangers.

Ibrox Stadium has been an all-seater arena for the best part of 20 years, however, slowly but surely safe standing is filtering into British football.

Across the city, Celtic aka ‘the other mob’, introduced a safe standing section in the corner of Parkhead where 2,700 supporters are given the option to stand during games.

In fact, supporters groups are hoping to expand said standing area with the aim of improving the atmosphere.

Currently, there isn’t an official specified standing zone at Ibrox despite the Union Bears predominately standing in the corner of the Broomloan Front.

The issue has come to the fore with news that Rangers supporters group Club 1872 plan to write to the club to try and initiate plans to introduce safe standing. That's after its members voted overwhelmingly in favour with 83.85 per cent backing its introduction.

A statement from the supporter body explained: “Guided by the wishes of our Contributors, the Club 1872 Board will now write to Rangers requesting an official update on the feasibility study the Rangers Executive Team carried out into safe standing prior to the Covid pandemic.

“We will also immediately investigate how Club 1872 could assist in funding safe standing being introduced to Ibrox. Club 1872 has substantial funds available and would be willing to discuss providing these on the same basis as other major investors in RIFC, particularly for capital expenditure which prioritises the wishes of our Contributors and the wider support.” 

Rangers Review:

The Ibrox club did conduct a feasibility study into safe standing but it was curtailed due to the Covid pandemic.

It’s clear there is demand for a safe standing area within the stadium and given the aforementioned Union Bears then surely it wouldn’t be too strenuous to transform that section of the Broomloan stand, to begin with before considering a further expansion?

Of course, you have to factor in season ticket holders and there will likely be some supporters who prefer to sit but there is certainly a groundswell of support for a safe standing area and the Club 1872 vote highlights this.

There is no doubt a standing area can enhance the atmosphere during games. The obvious example many cite is Borussia Dortmund’s famous Yellow Wall where the entire monstrous stand behind one of the goals is a standing area which makes for a unique and overwhelming spectacle when it’s packed out.

Ironically, Ibrox was modelled on the Westfalenstadion when it was redesigned following the darkest day in the club’s history in 1971. The issue is understandably delicate but football has changed and improved with the times to the point where more and more clubs are integrating safe standing within their stadiums.

There are numerous clubs that have introduced safe-standing areas down south including Chelsea, Man City, Man United and Tottenham.

It’s certainly an issue that won’t go away and ultimately supporter demand will surely result in Rangers catering for those who wish to remain upright at games. At the end of the day, if it’s likely to improve the atmosphere then it has to be something the Ibrox hierarchy seriously considers.

You sense that the Union Bears won't stand down in this debate anytime soon, and crucially, the vast majority of Rangers fans seem to firmly behind them, in principle at least.

Over to you Mr Robertson!