Rangers fans boycott to hit final plans

SPFL bosses fear a fans backlash if the Ramsdens Cup Final is played anywhere other than Ibrox.

Stenhousemuir are the one remaining obstacle between Rangers and the lower-league showpiece.

Should the Light Blues win their semi-final tie at Ochilview next month, the sponsors should be able to look forward to a record crowd for their big day on Sunday, April 7.

But the choice of venue is set to be a big issue.

Hampden, the 52,000 capacity National Stadium, is out of commission because it is already booked for the Commonwealth Games

Celtic Park, which can hold over 60,000, has been mooted as a possible alternative.

But it is understood a number of Rangers supporters have already intimated to the SPFL that they won’t follow their favourites to the home of their greatest rivals.

What’s more they will boycott ANY top-flight ground that is picked to stage the Final, be it Tynecastle, Easter Road or wherever.

That’s because they feel the club was unfairly treated by SPL clubs when being placed in the old Third Division in the summer of 2012.

That view was the main reason for the boycott of Tannadice last season when Rangers were drawn against Dundee United in the Scottish Cup.

With former owner Charles Green having responded to the fans’ wishes by announcing Rangers would not accept their ticket allocation, only 365 away supporters were recorded as attending the tie.

And as much as Rangers followers would want to see their club have the chance to win the Ramsdens Cup, they would prefer the game was played at a lower-league ground, such as Almondvale, the Falkirk Stadium or Broadwood.

Those stadiums, though, have respective capacities of just 10,000, 9,000 and 8,000.

Using any of the trio would mean only meeting something like 25% of the demand.

That is not seen as a sensible option by the authorities.

Ibrox would offer a 50,000 capacity solution which would appeal to Light Blues fans.

Whether the other potential finalists, Raith Rovers or Annan Athletic, would agree to play at what would be a far from neutral venue, remains to be seen.

Rangers manager Ally McCoist was at pains to stress there was no issue because his club have not qualified yet.

He would say only that he felt that in general players liked to play in front of as large crowds as possible.

Ramsdens have adopted a similar stance, saying it’s too early for them to pass comment.

The company are however understood to have been delighted by the additional coverage the presence of Rangers in the competition has brought them.