Ticket stand off for Rangers v Celtic match

The Daily Record has reported that there is a stand-off between Celtic and Rangers over tickets for the March 25 derby at Ibrox.

For over a year the Record was happy to promote the idea that Whyte was a billionaire about to front load Ally McCoist’s transfer warchest but over the last three weeks their attitude to Whyte has turned 180 degrees with a steady stream of news coming from the ‘Whyte-Out’ camp.

According to the report Celtic aren’t willing to pay Rangers in advance for the 7,300 Ibrox tickets. Already this year Dundee United, Dunfermline and Inverness Caley Thistle have seen their ticket money used towards paying Rangers wage bill.

With administrators Duff and Phelps continuing to honour Rangers season tickets there are only around 10,000 tickets for sale on a game by game basis. The bulk of those for the derby clash goes to Celtic fans and will provide the debt-ridden club with a £300,000 boost.

Rangers face Hearts on Saturday with tickets on sale at £28 and £15 for concessions which raises considerably less than the visit of Celtic and 7,300 fans paying £42 a time.

Celtic were made aware of Rangers difficulties towards the end of last year and insisted in being paid in advance for the December 28 fixture at Celtic Park.

Following that deal it was agreed by both clubs to continue that arrangement but fears for Rangers future have grown with Whyte warning yesterday on Sky Sports of more pain to follow.

Very few businesses would pay up front for goods three weeks in advance to a company in administration with Celtic concerned about taking money from fans for a fixture which may not take place.

With Duff and Phelps still to announce any money saving moves, other than the departures of Gordon Smith and Ali Russell, Rangers troubled finances have barely altered since Whyte put them into administration.

Unless the SFA or SPL step in to act as a go-between for the two clubs the fixture could be put in doubt with Strathclyde Police also certain to have an input.

Rangers could decide to ban Celtic fans and sell the tickets to home supporters only as they did in 1994 under previous owner David Murray.

Should they decide to go down that route Celtic would be almost certain to ban Rangers fans from the final derby match of the season when the Ibrox side visit Celtic after the split.

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