Rangers fans travelling down south for the Europa League clash with Manchester United have been warned not to make the return trip on Friday due to a red weather warning.
Ibrox supporters making the trip to support the Gers in the Europa League clash have been warned to find accommodation for the evening of Friday 24th January due to the situation.
Any return tickets will be accepted up to and including Tuesday 28th January for those affected and Rangers fans are being urged to find accommodation until at least the morning of Saturday 25th January.
It comes after the met office issued a rare red weather warning as Storm Eowyn prepares to batter Scotland and Northern Ireland with heavy rains, wind and snow.
Over 5500 Rangers fans impacted by Storm Eowyn
Rangers fans travelling to Manchester have been warned that the red weather warning has been issued as the forecast presents a ‘danger to life’.
Winds could reach as high as 100mph with the potential for damage to buildings and power lines, whilst the threat of flying debris has the met urging people in central and southwestern Scotland to stay home on Friday.
The red weather warning will run between 10:00 to 17:00 on Friday across a sizeable proportion of the central belt from Glasgow to Edinburgh, some islands and parts of south west Scotland.
“We reserve the issuing of red warnings for the most severe weather which represents a likely danger to life and severe disruption, and that is the case with Storm Éowyn,” said the Met Office’s chief meteorologist Paul Gundersen.
“While it will be widely very windy on Friday, with additional hazards from rain and snow, the strongest winds and most significant impacts are likely in Northern Ireland and central and southwestern parts of Scotland within the red warning areas.”
Over 3500 Rangers fans will be in attendance at Old Trafford for the Europa League clash with Manchester United whilst a further 2000 will be in a special fan zone in the city.
It is unclear how many more ticketless fans have made the journey to face the Premier League club but thousands more are expected in the city.
Rangers fans warned of railway chaos
Avanti and TransPennine Express (TPE), who operate services between Glasgow Central, Manchester and Manchester Airport, have urged fans not to travel.
Avanti is warning passengers not to travel north of Preston with the West Coast Main Line now closed north of Preston on Friday.
TPE have urged customers not to travel between Manchester or Liverpool to anywhere in Scotland on Friday.
Scotrail have warned they are ‘working with industry partners’ and will update the public with regards arrangements shortly.
London North Eastern Railway, who operate the east coast line, have also announced there will be no services travelling north of Newcastle from 11am on Friday morning.
The situation has understandably caused some anxiety amongst the travelling Rangers support, who will be scrambling to find accommodation in Manchester until Saturday morning.
