Fan Forum, question and answers (Managers comments / DOF update / Stadium update)

*** Comments in paraphrased note form ***

Brief paraphrased notes from Rangers second Fans forum held at New Edmiston house.

In attendance for Rangers

James Bisgrove, Chief Executive Officer
Karim Virani, Chief Commercial Officer
James Taylor, Chief Financial Officer
Creag Robertson, Director of football operations
Greg Marshall, Head of Fan Engagement & SLO
David Milburn, Customer Service Manager
Natalie Nairn, Head of Retail & Events

Hosted by Nick Thomson Head of communications

– Small Introduction from each

Manager comments and introduction –

Welcome everyone, very passionate support and I see it every second. Really happy I made this choice. Felt very good from the talks with the club, very ambitious to give the club the status we had before and that’s what we will try to do.

It’s better than I thought it would be for the moment. I knew a bit about the dynamic but it’s better than I thought, the players have reacted well and it’s going faster than I thought, now it is about that growth.

I feel our bond is growing with support, I saw in the games before it was not positive, it’s our job to change the dynamic and we are working hard on that to change the story. The supporters have joined changing that dynamic and they are giving energy to the players, like at Dundee or Hampden, it gives us something extra.

We will need that in the coming months and I will push for that to win every game. The players know if they do good things the rest will follow.

Ahead of Prague, You want to build from game to game, you want to give players a chance but we miss a few from European squad. One player is unavailable but I will not tell you who.

Supporters questions and answers for manager from the floor –

Q- Is reaction a big one (injury?)

PC – No minor, but may not make it Thursday or Sunday

Q – How have the players bought in to this so quickly?

PC – We have spent a lot of time together, a lot of hours together, lots of photos, lots of info. The Mrs is not to happy! We have been busy but the players are hungry for to improve and have been working hard, I am happy with them. Tav, Butland, Goldson, Lunny all big leaders in the dressing room and on the pitch they help me with my story and the players.

Q – Can you take credit for Sima Player of the month?!

PC – (Laughs) No I don’t take credit, I had to choose football or tennis, I choose football because it’s together with a team. I get most satisfaction from the team and everyone smiling.

Q – How can we improve injuries?

PC – Yes we know the reason but won’t go into that, we move forward. We have to make the players more robust, get them into a rhythm so we are very busy with that. The preparation for the players is much more individual, some will have less free time than others who are in better condition.

Q – How do you install a winning mentality?

PC – Be yourself, I love to win, I do everything to win. I had a lot of fights with my ex wife about that! I never let my children win in games, you need to deserve to win, if you let people win you won’t create that ambition. We give the players that goals, we create a safe environment and they can make mistakes but we train on how they react because it happens. The more you taste success the more you go for more. I told them after semi they could be satisfied but tomorrow it is done and focus on Prague on Thursday. We are working on that to be natural.

Comment – We are now seeing a team that wants to win, thank you. (applause)

Q – Do you see promise in youth?

It’s my passion to develop players, I have worked with youth, as assistant I stayed in contact with staff in youth. I created a bridge, between second team and first team. We will work on that here in the next few years. I don’t know every game, I saw our last B game, We have a really good one in Ross (McAusland) and I’ve seen a few with other big potential. We know who will get that role, we will appoint that in next few weeks and we have someone very good for that role, very important thing for the club.

Philippe Clement leaves and thanks everyone, then says ‘I hope you put a lot of difficult questions to these guys’ laughs and leaves!

Pre entered Questions –

Safe standing and singing section

James Bisgrove – Four trials held and season ticket survey, 6000 responses, the feedback and input from first team is that Rangers supporters want us to create a singing section. The next challenge is the location of that, we continue to engage on that. No decision on where that will be has been made for that, the board and chairman will be updated on that.

Potential expansion plans will effect that so it’s a bit of a jigsaw, but we have enough data to go to the board after the AGM. No outcome but we are moving forward.

Greg Marshall – A number of engagements have went out and will continue in coming weeks. We have made great progress. Fan advisory board will be announced in coming days, the standard and candidates are incredible standard.

We are showing our commitment and this is a genuine attempt to make sure fan voices are heard at the top level. Ensuring the board can make decisions with fan voices being heard.

Question – Update from Karim Virani on commercial situation

The performance last 4-5 years has been exceptional, have inherited a high performing team, not about changing that but evolving. The expectations is we support Philippe and his team whilst keep growing.

We are clear on our principles, partnerships and marketing for example, it’s always fans first and making sure there is values to experiences or opportunities. The second is we are performing and acting as best in class organisation. We can always learn from the industry. When we articulate with partners we stress how strong this football club is.

Talking to fans, we don’t settle for second and we tie in with that commercially, we have higher aspirations to create the very best commercial growth. Growing local and international partners, international growth is a real target and where we can really grow and tell our story. International touring etc these are they type of things I am looking at.

Question on club events – Natalie Nairn updates

Edmiston House is exciting, the amount of evening with events we are looking to build. We will announce three new ambassadors soon, we are focusing on growing that. the ladies lunch and welcome Hamburg party was big Diverse events for us, that’s what we are trying to do and create different events for different people.

We will be having our first womens open training session at the training ground. We are looking at Edmiston House for end of the season Women’s awards and we are continuing to grow that in the future.

Question – Stadium faculties update

James Bisgrove – Laying new pitch In facility across from Ibrox. Great museum, really proud of that. Menu by Gordon Ramsey is an unbelievable partnership, we will soon be launching his new menu in the Blue sky Lounge.

Toilets upgraded in Copland lower with new disabled facilities also going in. The top of Ibrox main stand will be getting cleaned in coming months also. The footprint of the stadium is also in our plans to resurface.

Walter Smith statue will be unveiled into the New Year and will be a special moment for the club.

Financial questions on sustainability

James Taylor – Uefa rules are becoming more front and centre, for our perspective we have went through Uefa regulations and we are well ahead of schedule. Part of the work we are doing is around what shape we should have, the management and staying within those parameters is really important.

Commercially we have had real growth, through ticketing and Uefa performance. The player trading model that will allow us to continuing improvement of success is the final vision for us all.

Question on B team and academy –

Creag Robertson – Tonight we are last B team still In competition. The lowland league served a worthwhile purpose, Kieran Dowell will play tonight but couldn’t play in LL. That was a limitation and the decision to withdraw was centred around that and getting opportunity for first team to feature.

Ross McAusland would have went on loan and probably wouldn’t have got in the first team, if we were in LL he wouldn’t be here.

We are excited about Zeb Jacobs and he will push our levels forwards, we are excited about him. We are individual player focused, best for best games will give us that. Man Utd, Man City, Monaco, that goes from every level which helps every level of the academy development. We think we have the staff and infrastructure right for this.

DOF update –

James Bisgrove – Coming to final stages, chairman and I will have more meetings in London at end of the week. That individual will lead our recruitment team and liaise with Creag with everything in our football department.

Our football board is vital, this appointment will compliment that. You can see in recruitment in this club how important that is. We are moving to the final stages on this.

Question – Ticketing website update

David Milburn – Will be up and running in time for next season, we have a data entry of fifteen years with bespoke procedures like CCS which is why it takes so long. I would expect it to be a far more simplified and customer service friendly, for example a juvenile ticket upgrade to adult will be done online easily.

The improvements are really very good.

Question on Women’s team

Creag Robertson – Jo Potter impact added real value, only undefeated team left. In process of appointing Womens DOF and enhancing womens project. Very excited about womens program, big view to progressing in Europe.

Questions from floor –

Q – Have we debt from firing last two management teams?

JB – In next week or two we will release financial results, we will record a profit for second successive season. The departure of previous managers hasn’t impacted that.

JT – Board very supportive of decisions, from a debt perspective there is no external debt from those decisions.

Q- We had a partial stadium ban in 2019, how does Safe standing affect that, FARE are all over us if we even fart. I’m worried this will affect it

JB – What will follow once we identify new location for singing section, then we will look at safe standing and can do that in safe way. Anything we undertake will be done with right consideration of various organisations and working with them.

Q- Hibs fan’s disrespect of our stadium, we need to respect this stadium and why it is built as such.

JB – The Ibrox disaster and why this stadium is here and why we take it seriously, it’s never forgotten. When we have that disrespect and you can ensure we will take the strongest possible action which happened after the Hibs game.

In 2018 we met the council, 22 meetings have went to one club, none have been here, are we addressing that?

JB – We have a good relationship with the council which remains, I’ve only had positive dialogue with them.

Q- MyGers question, why has points levels increased?

NN – That’s to reflect points generated activity, I want to say our Gold is our most active in our support which represents fans who do the most and attend the most games home and away. There has to be an increase as it is accumulative. We have tried to create a Hybrid system, the biggest challenge is getting domestic away tickets. The average application is 16000 per game, there is no easy option to this. We tried to create a system where those who do go to all the games get a fair system which awards loyalty. We make tickets available for all levels of Gold, Silver, Bronze.

We want to acknowledge merchandise purchases and we may get to point where points are available for that, but we would cap it. It’s something we will consider and is asked a lot.

Greg Marshall – Away tickets being cut every game isn’t helping us and is making everything more difficult. We continue to work with league and clubs, always pushing for more but ultimately it is very difficult to get more.

Q – Are we getting an away travel partner?

Greg Marshall – We have first team and corporate travel partner, destination sport. They are looking at options but we have chosen not to do it but the prices are so high.

Karim Virani – If it isn’t appropriate we won’t offer it as it’s not affordable, we will keep trying for our fanbase on that.

Q – Barriers causing issue for older members and couldn’t get to our bus, is there a solution for that? Can we keep the away fans inside or look at better parking?

GM – Hibs were kept in and the barriers were open, they closed when Hibs got released well after. The barriers are a police decision and we don’t control that. The barriers will be in place for Prague. The decisions to that can’t be made in advance by the Police.

Q – Is there a CAP for away games, £32 for Dundee a lot, is club thinking about that?

GM – Clubs rely in our support, we would love that and it would be supported but being realistic our fans buy everywhere and sell out, clubs know that.

JB – I sit on the SPL board so can raise that, it has to come from league so I can do that. We need to make sure it’s right for Rangers support so can raise that.

Q – Any progress on minimum allocation and will we request from Celtic?

Yes we will be requesting tickets, will likely be a matter for the league board but we believe there should be away fans there. Ongoing debate on away ticket allocation, percentage may work but may harm us at Ibrox. It’s a decision outside our hands. We need to be careful because may have issues at Ibrox.

Q – Scouting department update with changes

JB – Mervin Day focuses on Scottish and English league, Craig Robertson (not same as present tonight) is in charge of Europe and Craig Murray who is in charge of data. We have stripped that back to more Data based. This is all overseen by John Park.

Each regional head will have a team under them also.

CR – It’s about being more efficient and when we live scout it’s about being more efficient as we do live scout we know this player is ready for us which the data provides.

Q- Season ticket move communication with stadium upgrade, will you inform well in advance?

GM – You will be told early and then consulted to make recommendations to the club. If you are being moved you will be able to pick wherever possible, if you are affected you will be ensured early. We don’t want to force people.

Q – Stadium expansion

JB – Corner Partial fill, 700 in each block is an option. Complete fill is also an option. Lowering the pitch also being looked at.

Ambitious plans and long term plan being looked at in Copland and Broomloan to add 8000-10000 capacity to each stand. (NOTE – Didn’t expand on cost or how that is possible. Has been clarified, 8-10k per stand is correct figures)

Q – People leaving early can we do anything about it?

GM – As fans we know about it, the club can’t criticise fans, we know and focus on what’s best for the team. We are trying to work on travel options to try and help.

JB – We are working on this, it’s clear it helps the team and the manager has said this.

CR – One of the biggest pulls for the manager is the atmosphere for Ibrox, his energy comes from the fans and the players feel this.

Q – Ibrox train station is it a possibility?

GM – £20m cost to the council but doesn’t lie with Rangers. SPT are improving and we are working to influence them also. Hasn’t been improvement on that situation.

Q – Copland Front, will there be more fan engagement on potential moves?

GM – Yes, if anyone wants a conversation we will happily speak to them also. The offer is there to meet with us and have their voice heard.