Confirmed: Board discussions set to be held at SPFL rivals regarding Rangers & Celtic fans

St Johnstone chief executive Fran Smith says McDiarmid Park could be open for more Rangers and Celtic fans starting next season.

Smith confirms that there will be discussions held at the boardroom level regarding the East Stand also being available to host fans from the Old Firm clubs.

It’s understood to be a financially-driven decision and already happened once for the Gers League Cup tie in January 2023.

Smith said, via the Daily Record (20 November): “Our current policy is our fans will be in the East Stand – and that will remain through to the end of the season.

“We’ve Rangers in a couple of weeks and Celtic again later in the season. Hopefully there will be another game against Rangers in the top six after that.

“We were always going to review this at the end of the season. We’ll discuss it as a board and discuss it with fans’ groups again. There are a few options.

“Economically, if we’re not going to fill the East Stand, why wouldn’t we think about maximising income? You’re probably talking about being £75k better off for one game, which is a player.

“Of course, the rest of the board might not agree with me. That’s the important thing. One option is giving St Johnstone fans the Geoff Brown Stand and the Ormond.

“We’d make £35k more doing it that way. There’s the possibility of season tickets with and without Old Firm games.

“It’s always going to be a contentious one for the club. But it’s one we have to speak about again as a board and a club. And we need to involve the fans to make sure we make the right decision. My leadership is all about one club, one city, one community.

“We’re not saying we’ll give fans full autonomy to make decisions but we want them to feel part of it. They are the club. I want more of our fans to come out and support us in the games against Rangers and Celtic.”

Rangers fans will certainly relish this change if it takes place

Hosting more Gers and Hoops fans at McDiarmid Park presents a win-win scenario.

For St Johnstone, increasing the away allocation could significantly boost matchday revenue, potentially by £75,000 per game, which could be crucial for player acquisitions or club development.

This financial influx supports the club’s competitiveness and stability.

For Rangers fans, the increased allocation means more supporters can experience the atmosphere of an away match, enhancing the game’s ambience and potentially making the journey to Perth more appealing due to the larger community of supporters.

This can lead to a more vibrant and competitive match environment, benefiting the overall spectacle of Scottish football.

Moreover, it’s good to see St Johnstone taking their fans’ views into account as that’s the ideal way for Scottish football to group.

In other Rangers news, Dave King wants this manager to replace Philippe Clement and a development has emerged on his future.

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