Rangers' Philippe Clement Optimistic About Temporary Move to Hampden Park

Rangers to Make Hampden Park Temporary Home Amid Ibrox Renovations

Philippe Clement, the manager of Rangers, believes that Hampden Park is the optimal choice as the team prepares for their upcoming match against Motherwell at the national stadium. This move comes due to delays in materials arriving from Asia, which have stalled renovations on the Copland Road Stand at Ibrox.

Hampden Park as a Temporary Venue

Rangers will utilize Hampden Park as their temporary home while essential work continues at their iconic stadium. The first match in this new arrangement will be against Motherwell this Saturday, and Clement has expressed his comfort with this decision.

Clement's Thoughts on the Venue Change

"I have been involved with the choices to make," said Clement, who is also set to feature new signing Robin Propper, a 30-year-old defender acquired from FC Twente. He emphasized that playing at Hampden not only benefits the players but also ensures that fans feel at home, with travel distances remaining comparable.

"We need to keep the fans in mind, that was a priority for me," Clement added. "It would have been different if we had to go to Murrayfield or a large stadium in England, so I am really pleased that we found a solution that works for everyone."

Fans' Support at Hampden Park

Clement anticipates a strong turnout of Rangers supporters at Hampden Park. "With 50,000 fans supporting us at Hampden, we expect a fantastic atmosphere. It could have been worse if we were in a lesser-capacity stadium. I’ve experienced a half-filled Hampden with our fans, and the energy was remarkable—so this time, with a full house of Rangers supporters, I expect an even better experience,” he noted.

Future of Ibrox Stadium Repairs

Rangers chairman John Bennett mentioned that the club aspires to return to Ibrox by the end of September. However, Clement has urged caution regarding the timeline. "I can’t promise anything because the completion of the renovations depends on external contractors and their timelines. We are all eager to return home, but we must also accept that these things take time," he explained.

Upcoming Fixtures for Rangers

Following their encounter with Motherwell on the weekend, Rangers’ subsequent home game at Hampden Park is scheduled against Ross County on August 24. The next league match won’t return to Ibrox until September 28, when they face Hibernian. Additionally, the team’s Champions League qualifiers and League Cup matches will be affected by this interim venue arrangement.

Coordination with Local Football

In light of Rangers moving to Hampden, the SPFL has announced that Queen's Park's Championship game against Livingston will now take place a day earlier on Friday, August 9.

Expansion of Facilities at Ibrox

Rangers are currently enhancing their facilities at Ibrox, which includes installing new seating for disabled fans and increasing the capacity of the Copland Stand by approximately 600 seats. These updates are essential to provide accessibility and comfort to all supporters once the renovations are completed.

Stay Updated with Rangers

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