Rangers fan zone day is off
THERE will be no fan zone at Rangers next month after concerns were raised about them forcing kids out of their football centre.
Rangers had hoped to host the zone at the Ibrox Football Centre next month but the community council voted to oppose the plan, saying kids could get forced out if the zones became a regular fixture.
RANGERS have been told they will not be allowed to host a fan zone at the Ibrox Football Centre next month.
The club announced last month that it would allow 2,000 fans into the Glasgow Life-owned pitch before and after the team’s first home game against St Mirren on August 11.
And Gers chiefs had secured a licence to sell alcohol during the event.
But those plans have been thrown into disarray after community council bosses raised objections against the fan zone over fears it will stop kids playing at the football centre.
Govan councillor Stephen Dornan said: “The Community Council took a vote and they decided to retain their opposition to the fan zone.
“The number of people who would be admitted entry at the St Mirren game would be 2,500 but I’ve been told by Rangers’ managing director, Stewart Robertson, that they’d want more than 7,000 eventually.
“Rangers want to hold four pilot events to help them see what they need to do to make it a success.
“The fact is, that they’ll want every match eventually to have a fan zone there.
“My concern is that these matches are controlled by the likes of Sky Sports. If you look at the football schedules the pitch would never be available for kids’ football ever again.
“Rangers should be investing in youth football in the area. They shouldn’t be trying to replace it with burgers and booze.”
Rangers had planned to hold a legends Q&A as well as kids activities during the event – as they did in the Edmiston House car park last season. But Mr Dornan insisted that allowing club and TV bosses to dictate when the pitch is used would be wrong.
Glasgow Life confirmed that the fan zone won’t go ahead unless matters with the community are resolved. A spokeswoman said: “Following a licensing objection from Ibrox and Cessnock Community Council, Glasgow Life has communicated to all involved parties that no Rangers family fan zones will take place in our Ibrox Football Complex while the objection is still in place. This remains our position.”