Rangers v Manchester United question raised amid Murrayfield development
Kenny Miller has questioned whether the decision for Rangers to stage their friendly with Manchester United at Murrayfield was “pre-planned”.
That’s because it was reported on 20 June that the Gers had started conversations around temporarily moving to Murrayfield [Scottish Sun] for the start of the Scottish Premiership season.
Upon the conclusion of the 2023/24 season, work began on the Copland Road Stand that was expected to finish before the start of the new term.
However, this evidently hasn’t worked out, with the project manager for the work even being sacked over the debacle [Scottish Sun, 20 June].
“You have to wonder whether this friendly they’ve had pencilled in against Manchester United in Edinburgh was pre-planned because they knew about the Ibrox issues,” Sky Sports pundit Miller wrote in his Daily Record column [30 June].
What comes next for Rangers amid Ibrox debacle?
Although not playing at their home ground isn’t the be-all and end-all for Rangers, nothing will be able to compare to the atmosphere that can be produced at Ibrox.
Players will still be able to play their normal game, but they will likely feel out of place and question what they’re doing playing there.
The United game could’ve been scheduled at Murrayfield with the club aware Ibrox was unlikely to be free to use at that point.
Alternatively, and from a more cynical point of view, club chiefs may have seen it as a way for the players to get accustomed to the ground before playing competitive fixtures there.
A summer of change is on the cards at the Glasgow-based outfit with many players leaving and arriving.
Philippe Clement will be hoping to break his bad run of form against Celtic this term and even try to make his way to the top of the SPFL table.
One thing is for sure, wherever Rangers line up to start their season, it will be a new-look squad.
In other Rangers news, the Gers have been given a boost in their pursuit of an ex-loanee.
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