The Sun has become the first mainstream publisher to hint that Ibrox will be closed beyond the end of August.
Last Thursday a brief club statement mentioned that Ibrox won’t be ready for the start of the season but there was no indication when the construction work will be completed and the stadium ready to reopen.
Without any detail of what the problems are, when materials will be delivered or how the extended job will be staffed there seems to be blanket acceptance in the mainstream that the work will be completed by the end of August.
With Nations League international matches at the start of September the closure would only affect two home SPFL matches but there are rumours of far deep problems with suggestions that October is the most optimistic date for Ibrox to host matches with fans in four stands.
Breaking the prospect of a longer delay, in The Sun Roger Hannan writes:
Hampden is out of bounds due to concerts and stadium works – and Celtic Park is out of the question for obvious reasons.
But however this shakes down, it’s certain Gers supporters will be unhappy at moving away from Ibrox for ‘home’ games.
This summer’s work is just the first phase of redevelopment at Ibrox and they won’t know for sure when they’ll get inside the ground.
Motherwell and Ross County will avoid trips to Ibrox in the first month of the season, it is likely that other clubs will also get that benefit.
A stadium will have to be nominated to UEFA to host one or possibly two Champions League qualifiers.
Group stage football is assured but the same venue has to be used throughout, if Ibrox can’t be used in September it won’t be until the knock-out stage that it will be able to host UEFA matches.
Hiring Murrayfield won’t come cheaply, while it does offer the chance to sell more match tickets it is hard to imagine more than 50,000 fans at matches against Ross County and Motherwell with the Ibrox specific income streams all closed down.
I think there will be another 5-way agreement behind the scenes with Lawwell and others stepping in to help. One solution they might go for, would be Sevco to play the matches behind closed doors at the Milngavie training ground and Donaldson and the cabal diverting money to the stricken club in compensation.
Can somebody help me here ?….
I am puzzled about the Project Manager being sacked by Sevco…because…Surely the Project Manager would be employed by the Contractor…and not Sevco.? In which case the Contractor sacks him….and not the Client.
I just don’t understand why this has happened..in the way it has been reported.
Or has Sevco cut corners again…and tried to do this on the cheap ?
Grateful for any suggestions or knowledge on the matter.
Editor: The sacked PM is as likely as a £10m double bid for Tav and Goldson…
I would think that the whole ‘steel didn’t arrive on time’ drivel, is a convenient lie to cover up the real issue. It is more than probable that asbestos has been found at Ibrox. The project manager-if he exists at all, Terence-will have been paid off, and advised to keep his trap shut.
Hail Hail.
Cheers Magua…And my whit a tangled web they weave…
They sure have a weird way of doing things then…This is one more example I guess.
Do not all their qualifiers have to be played in the same ground?
Editor: No clear rules on qualifiers but they won’t have an option on that, if they get through the two matches will be over four midweeks, within 21 days. The group stage games are spread from September to January.
Oh ,oh ! Looks like the Sun tabloid rag will be New Scotland Yard after printing that the Ibroxland big hoose will be shut for longer than first guessed ? Those uppity scoops cannot go against the Govanland party protocols and expect beer and skittles to follow ? No sir ,sir ,sir !
Maybe they should see if Dens Park could accommodate them lol