Rangers will begin their Champions League and Premiership campaigns outside of Glasgow after redevelopment work at Ibrox was hit by a lengthy delay.
A multi-million pound renovation project to overhaul the disabled facilities at Ibrox was commenced at the end of last term. The work in the Copland Stand was due to be completed in time for the new season but the board have now had to admit defeat in their attempts to stick to the original timescale after severe issues in the supply chain.
Contingency planning has been underway in recent weeks and talks are ongoing to secure a venue that will see Rangers hit the road for the first month of the 2024/25 season. Hampden is not an option for Rangers due to ongoing works at the National Stadium and Queen's Park will not play there until after Scotland's UEFA Nations League fixture with Poland on September 5.
Philippe Clement’s side face a hectic schedule of nine matches in August and will now not have the backing of an Ibrox crowd during their lucrative Champions League qualifiers and the opening matches of their Premiership title bid.
The Rangers Review understands that chairman John Bennett and his board had repeatedly sought assurances from key figures involved in the project that the initial timetable was achievable and there is now anger around the top table at the shambolic situation the club have found themselves in just weeks out from the big kick-off. One senior member of staff will leave Ibrox as a result of the setbacks that will cost Rangers significant sums in the coming weeks and Bennett is now picking up the pieces following James Bisgrove’s decision to quit his role as chief executive officer and move to Saudi Arabia.
A statement on Thursday said: "Rangers has recently been advised of a delay in a materials shipment from Asia which is likely to have an impact on the programme for the completion of the Copland Stand works.
"It is therefore expected, unfortunately, that there will be an impact on matches at Ibrox at the beginning of the 2024/25 competitive season. The club has engaged with the SPFL and UEFA in order to review planned contingency arrangements.
"Naturally, everyone at Rangers is deeply disappointed with this news. The club is working intensively to ensure that all steps are taken to deliver the project at the earliest possible date and a further progress update will be issued to supporters in due course."
