There has been a lot of talk in recent seasons about the allocation that fans are getting at Old Firm derbies and a new initiative by Rangers could be a hint at change.
The SPFL were shown for the toothless body that they are when Celtic were allowed to play dumb and deny Rangers fans entry to Parkhead even though they had been offered tickets to Ibrox for the first derby.
It’s a tit for tat that has to come to an end but Rangers increased number of season ticket holders makes increasing the Old Firm allowance harder – or does it?
Is there an Old Firm allocation experiment under way by Rangers?
The club announced today that away fans will be moving for some games in an attempt to get more home fans into the ground and make better use of the seats that are available.
Writing on the official website, the trial, starting against Livingston was explained:
“The trial’s objective is to maximise the number of Rangers supporters within Ibrox Stadium and to help further amplify the match day atmosphere in support of the team.
“Traditionally, away supporters at Ibrox are located within the Govan West Corner, and this will remain the case for clubs who take up a larger number of tickets made available to them.
“However, with some visiting clubs only using a small proportion of tickets, Rangers will, for this match, welcome Livingston’s supporters in the Club Deck, thus allowing Rangers to make the Govan West Corner available to our own supporters and therefore increase the number of Rangers fans within the stadium.”
The structure of the Club Deck is unique in terms of how it is accessed via the imposing stair cases either side of the main stand which, theoretically, makes it an option for redevelopment.
With a capacity of around 51,000, Rangers have to allocate 2,500 tickets (5%) in UEFA competitions so the provision has to be there for that number.
If, as planned, the capacity increases, so too will this number.
As with the relocation of the Union Bears and the works to the Copland Road stand, there would probably have to be Rangers fans moved, but how realistic would it be to see Celtic fans in the Club Deck for Old Firm derbies?
As with any trial, you start low and gradually get bigger.
It might, or it might not, be feasible.
Plenty of teams in the Premier League stick away fans up in the clouds and Rangers might be considering something similar.
The stairway could be designated specifically for away fans and the concourse could also be modified and segregated, same with the seating area.
Put it this way, on paper, there would appear to be more chance of a European allocation for Old Firm derbies if Rangers consider this type of change.
Ibrox has had a lot of money spent on it in recent years but it doesn’t look like the old lady of Scottish football is done being pampered just yet.
