Council meets with Rangers Football Club

Speaking about the meeting between Rangers FC and officers of Glasgow City Council and Glasgow Life, GCC Chief Executive Annemarie O'Donnell said:

"We were delighted to meet to discuss the ongoing relationship between the city council and Rangers. Both organisations have a significant role to play in the future of the Ibrox and Govan area, and the wider south side of the city.

"We agreed that working together in partnership is the only way to deliver that role.

"We are already collaborating on recovery programmes for adults recovering from addiction, and coaching education for young people who want to get involved in sport. Rangers and Glasgow Life are jointly using the Ibrox Football complex to deliver football coaching for young people.

"I want that work to continue, but I want it to go further.

"Rangers' relationship with the local community has radically changed in recent years, they are actively working closely with their local community and I want to discuss with them how the city council can support that ambition. In the medium term, the city has ambitious plans to grow the number of tourists who visit the city and Rangers have told me they want to be part of delivering that strategy.

"We discussed the issue of Fan Zones and I was happy to reiterate the City Council's support for the principle of Fan Zones. We have agreed to work together with Rangers on future plans for the Ibrox Football Complex which will ultimately deliver a facility with long term benefits for the local community. In the shorter term we will continue to work with Rangers and community representatives to explore the facilitation of a Fanzone for the Rangers supporters."

Stewart Robertson said:

"Having had the opportunity to meet with the Chief Executive of Glasgow City Council, Anne Marie O'Donnell, and the Chief Executive of Glasgow Life, Bridget McConnell, at Ibrox, I am pleased and encouraged to report they both reiterated the Council's support for the running of a Fanzone at Ibrox.

"As part of our positive engagement we agreed to improve and develop the relationship between the City Council and Rangers FC and to work closely on a range of issues which affect the communities around Ibrox.

"By working together we will focus on improving the match-day experience for our fans and I am pleased that both CEOs agreed to attend a Board meeting at Ibrox to progress the dialogue.

"It is vital to remember that the Ibrox Football Complex is a facility that falls short of modern standards - but I outlined to the Council that Rangers FC would be keen to play an active role in its redevelopment and management. In common with councils across Scotland, GCC faces stringent budgetary cuts. However, Rangers Football Club will engage positively with Anne Marie O'Donnell, Bridget McConnell and other interested parties to ensure the complex has a long-term future which will be to the benefit of all.

"It was important to be given categoric reassurance that Glasgow City Council and Glasgow Life are committed to working with Rangers in a constructive and positive manner. It is now very clear to me that Anne Marie and Bridget appreciate and are supportive of the plans Rangers are developing not only for a Fanzone but also to improve the infrastructure in and around the Stadium in the run up to our 150th anniversary, in 2022, and the Ibrox Football Complex will form a key component of those plans.

"Rangers Football Club will not be diverted from investing in and improving facilities for our fans and the local community and, as I have said, I am encouraged that Glasgow City Council and Glasgow Life share this longer-term vision.

"We are also committed to sustaining a range of services which complement city council services and to further develop our already wide-reaching and much lauded community programmes which are housed at Ibrox. The positive and, in many cases, life changing benefits of these programmes should not be under-estimated and through working closely with Glasgow City Council, Glasgow Life and other relevant bodies these initiatives can only be enhanced."