What the 49ers' latest Ibrox move means for Rangers’ stadium plans

Rangers are putting their work to renovate Ibrox into motion.

Andrew Cavenagh has openly discussed the possibility of an expanison of the iconic Scottish ground.

Now, it has been confirmed that consulting engineers, Dudleys, have been asked to take a look around Ibrox and inspect the ground.

The firm is a well known entity by Rangers' owners, the 49ers, as the same group had previously inspected Leeds United's Elland Road.

That link is noted by the company itself, stating online that the Ibrox project came through "recommendations" from the Premier League club.

And here is what that work currently means for Rangers' stadium.

What the inspection means for Rangers and Ibrox

The inspection itself is not a guarantee that work on Ibrox is imminent.

However, it does suggest that it is within the ownerships current thinking at the Glasgow club.

According to the website of the inspection firm, Dudleys, the work that was underway was to "carry out detailed structural inspections across the stadium and training facilities."

The purpose was to inform the client, which in this case is the 49ers, of the current maintenance of the stadium and where improvements are needed down the line.

Which as stated above, also included Rangers' training ground of Auchenhowie.

Rather than simply looking to add extra seats to Ibrox over the coming years, this assessment gives the owners more information on the priorities required in any renovation of the ground.

Why Ibrox renovations matter in modern football

The last thing any Rangers fan wants is for the soul of Ibrox to be ripped out and the stadium to lose what makes it so great.

And with any renovation, there is a fear that will happen.

However, with the money needed to compete in football only increasing as the seasons go on, adding extra revenue streams is becoming increasingly important.

The 49ers have shown no desire to sit back and watch Rangers slip away from the top of Scottish football, and the recent summer window has shown that.

Arrivals of players such as Ivor Pandur, Olwethu Makhanya and plenty others have provided a new dimension to the Bears' squad.

Right now, the expectation will be on Derek McInnes to bring the silverware back to Ibrox.

While the ownership continue to quietly work on plans to improve one of the United Kingdom's greatest grounds.