Rangers v USG postponement update: ‘Major operation underway’
Rangers have begun a “major clean-up operation” at Ibrox to attempt to ensure the next home contest with Union Saint-Gilloise goes ahead, according to the Scottish Mail on Sunday.
It was reported on the back page and page 99 of Sunday’s print edition (26 January) that both the Gers and Celtic are undergoing huge repair jobs at their respective stadiums following the chaos caused by Storm Eowyn in recent days.
Winds of 100mph have destroyed parts of the roofs at both grounds, with Celtic’s league match on Saturday (25 January) against Dundee postponed, while Gers visit 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 took great pleasure in being able to bait Celtic regarding matters on their stadium, Rangers are themselves now in a race against time to get Ibrox the green light for the visit of Thursday’s Belgian opponents.
Clement has priorities before taking on a side from his homeland he knows very well, with a chance to get three points on the board in their Sunday trip north first up.
Should Thursday’s clash be given the go-ahead to take place as planned, a point should be comfortably enough to ensure qualification for the play-off round, which if won will pass Gers through to the last 16 – tied on 11 points with USG.
In other Rangers news, the latest on the future of Rabbi Matondo after a breakdown in his move to Coventry City.
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