Rangers fans fear a huge TV turn-off

AT T E N D A N C E S at Ibrox could be seriously compromised this season because of games being moved by TV broadcasters.

That’s the opinion of the General Secretary of the Rangers Supporters Association, Drew Robertson.

Only three of the Ibrox club’s opening nine competitive matches will take place on a Saturday afternoon.

Ally McCoist’s men open their League campaign with a home match against Hearts on Sunday, August 10, before facing Falkirk the following Friday night.

They’ll also play Raith Rovers on a Friday night and entertain Hibs on a Monday night to accommodate the requirements of the television companies.

With thousands of supporters ditching their season tickets in favour of purchasing tickets on a week-by-week basis in protest at the club’s Board, Robertson fears Rangers’ attendance figures could dip this season.

He said: “I think when you move a match away from a Saturday afternoon, it impacts on the crowd.

“Your traditional football fan prefers to make a day of it. So when you move a game to a Friday night or even a Monday night, then I think it’s inevitable some fans might not have the same desire to attend a game.

“What you might find this season is fans pick and choose their games more.

“The way things are just now, there are still huge amounts of the Rangers fan base that plan to purchase tickets on a gameby-game basis rather than buying a season ticket.

“If you have a season ticket, then you would be more inclined to go to a game even if it is on a Friday or a Monday night.

“But if you haven’t made that commitment, then you might just miss the matches out that aren’t convenient.

“For example, a lot of fans have to take a half-shift to attend a midweek game both home and away, depending on where they live.

“So it’s bound to impact on attendances.

“Over the last couple of years, it has usually been the away games that have been moved because they are shown on TV.

“But it now seems as though a lot of our matches at Ibrox this season will also be moved.”

Robertson, however, says supporters won’t complain too much, as long as they are given plenty of notice.

He said: “At least there has been a reasonable amount of notice as to the changes to the dates.

“As long as there is a couple of months’ notice, then that should allow supporters who travel from further away enough time to plan their journey.”