DON’T TRAVEL PLEAD GERS
Blackpool as they prepare to defend their Premiership title.
Scottish football supporters have been given major hope of having full crowds inside crowd for the new season in the past week.
News that all major restrictions are due to be lifted on August 9 has boosted hopes of fans returning to football in their droves for the new campaign.
England’s route out of lockdown is set to happen even earlier with a July 19 target date still on the cards according to UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson this week.
Rangers are scheduled to face Micky Mellon’s Tranmere at Prenton Park on July 10 and they take on Blackpool at Bloomfield Road 11 days later.
But fans have been asked to hold off making any travel arrangements to attend those matches down south.
A club statement read: “Supporters, as always, are the heart of Rangers and welcoming our fans back safely to watch the team play is our top priority.
“We are optimistic of being able to invite supporters back to Ibrox this summer.
“We are in close dialogue with the relevant authorities to discuss ways in which fans can safely return to Ibrox and any away fixtures.
“We hope to be able to publish further information in the near future but until that time, we strongly advise supporters not to make any travel plans or commitments related to our summer fixtures.”
Blackpool stated that further details would be announced at a later date while Tranmere have confirmed that their game with Rangers will only be open to their own seasonticket holders.
A Rovers statement read: “The club can confirm only home supporters will be allowed to attend the match.
“Both Tranmere Rovers and Rangers kindly request that no away supporters travel to the game.
“Due to ongoing Covid-19 restrictions, we will be operating on a reduced capacity of 3,400 spectators as we did for our play-off semi-final first leg against Morecambe in May.”
Rangers came under scrutiny after thousands of fans broke lockdown rules to celebrate their title triumph in Glasgow on weekends in March and May.
They open their preseason schedule against Partick Thistle at Firhill on July 5 and they will also host Arsenal on July 17 in a glamour game which was announced several weeks ago.
They are also close to announcing plans for the final weekend of preseason before opening their title campaign at home to Livingston on July 31.