Rangers have started a “major clean-up operation” at Ibrox to guarantee the next home game against Union Saint-Gilloise goes ahead, according to the Scottish Mail on Sunday.
According to the back page and page 99 of Sunday’s print edition (26 January), both the Gers and Celtic are undergoing extensive stadium repairs as a result of the recent disruption caused by Storm Eowyn.
Winds of up to 100 mph have destroyed parts of the roofs at both grounds, postponing Celtic’s league match against Dundee on Saturday (25 January), while the Gers host Dundee United at Tannadice on Sunday.
Philippe Clement’s side are set to host Belgian side Union SG on Thursday (30 January), rounding off the league phase fixtures of the Europa League.
Parts of the roof of the Bill Struth main stand at Ibrox were torn away in the storm, which ripped through Scotland leading into the weekend.
Rangers in race against time to get USG match on
While Rangers embark on another league fixture away at Dundee United, work will resume at a rapid pace to clean up after Eowyn.
The storm has rendered parts of Ibrox currently unusable, meaning had the Light Blues been pencilled in for a home fixture in the Scottish Premiership this weekend, they could likely have ended up in the same predicament as their Glasgow rivals.
While some fans relished the opportunity to tease Celtic about stadium issues, Rangers are now racing against the clock to make Ibrox ready for Thursday’s Belgian visitors.
Clement has priorities before facing a team from his birthplace that he is familiar with, with an opportunity to score three points on their first journey north on Sunday.
If Thursday’s match goes on as planned, a point should be enough to secure qualifying for the play-off round, which, if won, will send Gers through to the last 16 – tied on 11 points with USG.
