'Huge own goal' - Barry Ferguson reacts to Ibrox saga at Rangers already

Barry Ferguson believes that having to play away from Ibrox for the first month of next season could be very damaging for Rangers.

Writing in his column for the Daily Record (22 June), Ferguson said that as Philippe Clement looks to get his first full campaign off to a winning start, a temporary relocation is “a huge own goal” by the club.

Delayed redevelopments to the Copland Road Stand mean the stadium will not be available throughout August, meaning the Gers have to up sticks for their opening league matches and two rounds of Champions League qualifiers [Stephen McGowan, 22 June].

Ferguson said: “(Clement) will be desperate to see his new-look squad get off to a flying start in the Premiership, carry belief and confidence into the Champions League qualifiers.

“It was a tough enough task as it was without having to give up home advantage.

“There’s no getting away from it, it’s a huge own goal and one Clement could really do without.”

Rangers cannot afford to be derailed by Ibrox debacle

After their end-of-season form fell off a cliff to essentially hand Celtic the Scottish Premiership title last season, Clement needs a strong start to the new campaign more than ever.

With Champions League qualification also on the line in the opening weeks, Clement could be immediately under severe pressure if efforts on both fronts don’t start well.

Therefore, having to play for weeks on end away from their long-time home is far from ideal preparation, with moves to Hampden Park and even Murrayfield suggested.

Early reports that Hampden was off the table have been quashed in a recent update, with avoiding moving to an entirely different city the ideal scenario for the Ibrox faithful [Andy Newport, 20 June].

Regardless of where they end up, the task remains the same for Clement: start the new season with all guns blazing, ensure Champions League qualification, and don’t allow Celtic to build any momentum whatsoever in a title race that is already shaping up to be a close-run contest.

In other Rangers news, the Light Blues have confirmed the exit of another goalkeeper this summer.

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