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Kieran Maguire: Rangers hit by devastating £36m blow amid crisis talks with Government
Rangers will miss out on roughly £36million in matchday income in 2020-21 and need clarity from the government on when fans will return.
That is according to finance guru and Football Insider columnist Kieran Maguire, speaking exclusively after the Daily Record reported that Scottish football executives are set to demand crisis talks with Holyrood over the situation.
The concern is that Scottish clubs will be unable to maximise season ticket sales amid uncertainty surrounding when pandemic restrictions will be eased.
Hampden Park has been given the green light to host 12,000 fans for this summer’s Euros.
But there is less clarity on when and in what quantities supporters will be able to return to club stadiums.
Magure explains that matchdays are an “essential” source of income for Rangers, accounting for 60 per cent of turnover at the last count.
He told Football Insider correspondent Adam Williams: “I think Rangers fans will renew because Steven Gerrard has delivered for them.
“When the club will legitimately be allowed to claim that money is so complex a problem.
“Clearly, they’ll have to roll over season tickets, which I think will be an issue.
“Scotland as a country has the highest proportion in Uefa of matchday income compared to total income.
“When we look at Rangers, 60 per cent of its total income in 2020 came from matchday. So it is a dominant force.
“Matchday income for 2020 was just under £36m out of total revenues of £59m, and that was a season that was curtailed by Covid.
“Potentially next season if they reach the group stages of the Champions League, the broadcasting pot will rise significantly.
“But matchday income is essential for Rangers. They’ve got a completely devoted fanbase who will turn up regardless of the opposition.”
Rangers’ last match in front of supporters was on 12 March 2020 in a 3-1 defeat to Bayer Leverkusen at Ibrox.
Fans have had to watch on from afar as Steven Gerrard ended the club’s 10-year wait for a Scottish Premiership title in 2020-21.
In other news, ex-Ger names two “exceptional” Celtic players who could be decisive on Sunday.