'Ridiculous' - Chris Sutton hits out at Rangers & Ibrox news, could cost them £40m

Chris Sutton has slammed Rangers after news emerged that Ibrox would not be ready for the start of the 2024/25 campaign.

According to Chris Jack [20 June], the Gers are being forced to play their first few home fixtures away from Ibrox due to redevelopment setbacks, which has already seen one person sacked [The Scottish Sun].

The delay will mean that fans cannot watch their team at Ibrox as they compete in the Champions League qualifiers, with plans underway to find a temporary home.

Writing via the Daily Record on Saturday (29 June), Sutton said: “Rangers fans aren’t interested in shipping containers and absent steel. Not being able to see their team play games at Ibrox is a ridiculous state of affairs.

“Listen, Rangers should be beating Motherwell and Ross County in the first month if they have to play them on the moon, but it’s not the point and it also has to have some effect on Clement’s chances in the Champions League qualifiers.

“Ibrox has been a powerful ally in Europe in recent seasons. Not having it for qualifiers and failing to make the competition’s new-look league phase could easily see another £40 million jackpot disappear.”

Rangers set to play opening matches of 2024/25 season away from Ibrox

The Gers will know exactly how important the Ibrox crowd would have been for the club’s Champions League qualification matches, which is why one person has already faced the consequences of the delays.

With a whole summer to prepare the Copland Road Stand, however, it is certainly not good enough that fans cannot return to Ibrox for the opening few games of the season.

Philippe Clement and his team will be hoping to get the season off to a positive start, having narrowly missed out on the Scottish Premiership title to their Old Firm rivals Celtic.

With Motherwell and Ross County the first “home” league games of the season, Rangers will definitely be expected to take all six points. But with the ongoing saga at Ibrox, the uncertainty could throw everything off.

The Gers need the best start possible to compete for the league title, rather than play catch-up like they did for most of last season, with Michael Beale leaving the side in the dark for Clement to fix.

It goes without saying that the financial loss will also have a huge effect, but fan satisfaction will be one of the most important factors going into the new season now.

In other Rangers news, Robby McCrorie may have edged closer to an Ibrox exit after the latest transfer development.

For more Rangers news, follow us on Facebook or join our brand new WhatsApp Channel for instant updates to be sent straight to your phone.

The post 'Ridiculous' - Chris Sutton hits out at Rangers & Ibrox news, could cost them £40m appeared first on Ibrox News.