IBROX - GLASGOW RANGERS
How To Get There By Car & Where To Park
Leave the M8 at Junction 23 and head towards Govan/Clyde Tunnel on the A8 Paisley Road West. You will come to the stadium on your right after about a mile and a half. The roads around Ibrox become pretty congested, so please allow some extra time for your journey. There is plenty of street parking around the stadium, although fans might like to park at the Albion Car Park, which is a secure site and charges about £7 per car.
By Train/Underground
The ground is at least a couple of miles away from Glasgow Central & Queens Street railway stations. Either jump in a taxi, or proceed down Argyll Street to the St Enoch Underground Station and take the Inner Circle underground train to the ground. Ibrox has its own underground station, only a few minutes walk away. The station though gets exceptionally busy after the games. Alternatively, there always seems to be a number of buses running by the ground which are heading back into the City Centre,
James Prentice adds; 'Ibrox Underground has huge queues after games, and some supporters may prefer to use Cessnock Underground Station on Paisley Road West, as fewer people seem to use it on a matchday. Turn out of the stadium and go left on to Edminston Drive, and the station is about five minutes' walk away after the road joins up with Paisley Road West (Adult single tickets are about 80p). While it is a tiny bit longer to walk to Cessnock, you may well stand a better chance of getting on the Underground more quickly than at Ibrox. Buses also run along Paisley Road West, and can take you right into the City Centre every couple of minutes. Getting off at Bridge Street is about 90p Single and is a two minute walk over the River Clyde for the Centre of Glasgow'. Otherwise if you are feeling particularly brave you can embark on the 40 minute walk back to the city centre.
What Is It Like For Visiting Supporters?
Away fans are located in the lower tier of the Broomloan Stand, towards the Govan Stand and the bulk are located in this corner of the ground, below one of the large video screens. The facilities are fairly good in this area, as well as enjoying a decent view of the playing action. For big games such as the Old Firm derby, then the whole of the Broomloan Stand can be allocated to the away support. The ground itself is great and with Rangers demotion to the third division it is a more relaxed day out than it was for away supporters of SPL clubs.
Where To Drink?
Most bars around the vicinity of the ground are normally very crowded and not particularly away fan friendly, so it may as well be an idea to drink in the city centre before moving onto the ground. However, The Albion on Broomloan Road by the ground, has been recommended by some away fans.
Jim Prentice adds; ''Away supporters tend to head for bars towards the Centre of Glasgow, as there is less chance of any hassle than when around the ground. For Rangers fans, there are several good bars to be found around Ibrox. Most bars are found in the vicinity of Paisley Road West, starting from the Old Toll Bar and the Viceroy furthest away (towards the city centre). En route to the stadium is the Grapes Bar, and a short walk towards the stadium are the District Bar and the Louden Bar (the latter just being around the corner from the District on Harvie Street) - a Rangers fan's heaven with lots of memorabilia and photographs on the walls. There are also a few Social Clubs further down PRW. Just over the M8, not far from Bellahouston Park, is the Tradeston Ex-Servicemens' Club, which is a huge old building that serves reasonably-priced beer and food - well worth a visit. The old Stadium Bar, opposite Ibrox Underground Station, has just been taken over by the owners of the Louden and has been redeveloped and is well on its way to being as good as the Louden on Harvie Street'.
RANGERS - NOT THE POWER THEY WERE
Walter Smith has backed recently-proposed boardroom changes at Ibrox after his ''heart-breaking'' decision to quit as Rangers chairman.
The 65-year-old urged supporters to rally behind the bid for power by former oldco Rangers director Paul Murray and Scottish accountant Frank Blin, who is believed to be close to Jim McColl, a wealthy businessman who combined with Smith in a failed bid to buy the club last June.
Smith has grown frustrated with the divided nature of the board and wants Charles Green associates Brian Stockbridge and Bryan Smart to step down as demanded by the disgruntled shareholders.
The requisition for a general meeting, which is believed to have been signed by a group with a combined stake of about 30 per cent in Rangers, also calls for Craig Mather to be removed from the board, but Smith reckons the chief executive should be allowed to continue his job.
In a lengthy statement, Smith said: ''Working with a board which could rarely find consensus and agreement has created a highly dysfunctional environment which has not been good for the club.
''On top of that, there has been recent further disruption which again has rendered the board less effective and efficient than it ought to have been.
''It is clear that boardroom change is required and I would urge Rangers fans to get fully behind the resolutions which last week were presented to the board and shareholders.''
Smith, who accepted former chief executive Green's invitation to join the board in November last year, somewhat reluctantly stepped up to the chairman's role in May.
That move saw Malcolm Murray stand aside following attempts from factions close to Green to remove the pension fund manager and Rangers supporter.
Smith now wants a deal to be reached in a similarly private manner to avoid a general meeting where the two sides would bid to secure a majority for control of the Rangers boardroom.
''In fact I am now imploring everyone to back these proposed changes so that much-needed stability and a level of integrity can be restored to the Ibrox boardroom,'' he added.
Smith did not mention Green in his statement but backed former assistant Ally McCoist, who hit out at the Yorkshireman on Saturday following League Cup defeat at Forfar, to be allowed a chance to manage the club in the circumstances afforded to his predecessors.
And the former Scotland boss, who won 10 titles at Ibrox, finished: ''As a manager I had to make many difficult decisions but none was tougher than the one I have just made.
''Stepping away from this club is heart-breaking but I will always be grateful for the support Rangers fans have given me down through the years.
''I will never forget and more than anything else I wish them the club they truly deserve.''
Rangers take on Newcastle in a friendly at Ibrox on Tuesday night but the atmosphere could be far from hospitable towards any of the directors aligned with Green, whose consortium paid £5.5million to buy the assets and business of the liquidation-bound club last June.