Rangers

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Hibernian say they are continuing to have "detailed conversations" with both the SPFL and Rangers regarding their away allocation at Ibrox on 29 September.

The Govan side will return to their home ground on Saturday to face Dundee after a brief relocation to Hampden due to delayed construction work on the Copland Road stand, which will only be partially open at the weekend.

In a statement, Hibs say "away ticket information has yet to be provided" for the league match taking place the following week.

The Leith club add: "With the match now just 10 days away, the clubs are working through a formal procedure with the SPFL to determine further information regarding away supporters."

Nick McPheat
BBC Sport Scotland

Intense speculation surrounding the future of captain James Tavernier dominated a tumultuous summer at Rangers.

But the right-back looks set to play out a 10th season with the Ibrox club as he aims to add to his trophy collection of a Scottish Cup, League Cup and Premiership title.

Despite being arguably the best Rangers player of the past decade, Tavernier's leadership and defensive capabilities have continually been doubted.

One element of his game that had never been questioned, though, is his attacking output, given the defender has posted a staggering 125 goals and 131 assists in 468 games for the club.

But that has changed this season, with some questioning whether the Englishman has the same influence in an attacking sense.

At the age of 32, perhaps that should be expected, but even by his outrageous standards it is a surprise to see he is yet to score a goal this campaign in eight games. After eight matches last term, he was on four.

About half of the right-back's Rangers goals have come from the penalty spot, so the fact the team are yet to be awarded a spot-kick this term could be a key factor in that zero beside his name.

The captain is still managing to contribute assists, though, with two coming in five Premiership fixtures this season, while his successful open-play cross tally of six is the highest in the division.

Although the campaign is in its infancy, it is still a shock to see Tavernier in fifth spot for chances created (11) - a chart the defender has regularly topped - and his total of just three shots on target also feels low.

But where Tavernier's numbers are shining is in his off-the-ball work. His nine interceptions are only bettered by Celtic's Cameron Carter-Vickers, plus just Callum McGregor and Sivert Heltne Nilsen have won the ball back more.

Having played just a month of the new campaign, only a bigger sample size will paint the full picture on whether we are watching a Tavernier regression.

But given his incredible scoring pedigree, no one should be surprised if the goals begin to flow.

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Former Rangers winger Vladimir Weiss said "it's nice when they remember you after such a long time" on a night his every touch was loudly booed by Celtic fans.

The Slovan Bratislava captain endured a torrid return to Glasgow, botching a chance for a first-half equaliser before Celtic ran riot in a 5-1 win to start the Champions League in style.

"I don't take these things personally, so it's okay," said Weiss of his pantomime villain treatment.

"We were expecting a really difficult game, which it was, but I had a good chance at 1-0 and maybe the game would have gone differently.

"Celtic showed the quality they have. They played so fast and we just weren't good enough in some moments.

"It's a totally different team than what I remember. They play fast and modern football which they proved and it was too much for us."

Weiss spent the 2010-11 season on loan at Ibrox, helping Rangers to a league and League Cup double.

On whether the defeat hurts more because of his Rangers connections, the 32-year-old Slovakia international said: "I loved my time at Rangers. I was only here for a year, but I was very young and I know I made some silly comments about Celtic in the past.

"I'm a totally different person now, but it was fun when I played here and I had hoped for a better result tonight."

Rangers have no plans to add to their squad with out of contract players. (Football Scotland), external

Fortuna Sittard have revealed a new third kit, which is a tribute to their late former player Fernando Ricksen, who also played for Rangers. (Sun), external

Read Thursday's Scottish gossip

Alasdair Lamont
BBC Sport Scotland Commentator

I said last week that Rangers' visit to Tannadice was all about picking up the three points for Philippe Clement's side, but in the opening 20 minutes their performance belied the pressure that was on them as they carved Dundee United open with ease with some terrific football.

Thankfully for them, they got the goal in that period that ultimately won the game that took them back to within five points of Celtic and Aberdeen.

But after some adjustments from United manager Jim Goodwin, Rangers made slightly heavy weather of getting over the line and I imagine the second half was a bit of a nerve-shredder for some of their supporters.

On a positive note, there was some fabulous link-up play, particularly in the early part of the game, involving Jefte, Mohamed Diomande, Tom Lawrence, Oscar Cortes and Cyriel Dessers, which perhaps should have been turned into a superior advantage.

There remains a vulnerability about Rangers, despite the fact Jack Butland wasn’t tested, but that was more to do with the profligacy of Kristijan Trapanovski than a defensive solidity.

Robin Propper does not look comfortable on the left side of central defence and is prone to giving up needless possession in dangerous areas.

However, the result was the required response following the defeat at Celtic Park and Rangers now have a return to Ibrox to look forward to and a home League Cup quarter-final tie against Dundee.

Rangers will hope to avoid another nervy encounter against a Dundee side that has impressed many at the start of this campaign.

But the home tie affords Rangers a wonderful opportunity to clinch a return to Hampden in defence of the one trophy they managed to keep out of Celtic’s clutches last season.

Belgian coach Sven Vandenbroeck - who gave Hamza Igamane his big break at ASFAR Rabat - believes the Moroccan striker can become a superstar at Rangers and earn the Ibrox club millions. (Daily Record)

Former Rangers defender Connor Goldson is having to adjust to playing in front of tiny crowds compared to 50,000 fans at Rangers, according to his Aris Limassol manager Aleksey Shpilevsky. (Scottish Sun)

Read the rest of Wednesday's gossip.

Jamie Currie
Fan writer

We were looking for a result and performance to match after the Old Firm defeat. We largely got that in what I felt would be a far tougher match than it actually was.

For the first 30 minutes at Tannadice Rangers were excellent. The tempo was good, the movement was good and the move for Tom Lawrence's goal was superb.

A worrying aspect is when we are out of possession; we are wide open still and very easy to play through, and it's even easier to get countered on. The defensive workrate and shape has to improve.

Even though it didn't cost us anything on Sunday, and the 1-0 loss flattered Dundee United, we have the Europa League coming up shortly and it gives the better sides scope to punish us.

Apart from the first 30 minutes, the defence was solid enough, not allowing United a shot on target. The backline had one of their better games and hopefully will build on that.

The same applies to Hamza Igamane, who came on and gave everyone a lift. The Moroccan forward looked strong, had good composure, was able to hold the ball up, and made a decent impression. Hopefully he will start in the League Cup quarter-final against Dundee on Saturday.

In contrast, Cyriel Dessers, outside of his touch to Lawrence for the goal, offered nothing much else.

It's becoming boring talking about Dessers. Yes, he will score goals but in games where you need a bit more he fails every time to deliver. Squad player, yes, he will be fine. Starter, no.

Finally just a word for John Bennett, who has stepped down as chairman. I hope he recovers to full health.

Former chairman Dave King has thrown has hat into the ring for a return to Rangers after John Bennett stepped down for health reasons.

Could it happen, and would it be a good move for the club? Daily Record football journalist Daniel Caw ponders King's potential return on the BBC's Scottish football podcast.

Dave King's hopes of returning to Rangers as chairman are set to be dashed with his former allies on the board unlikely to ask for his help. (Daily Record, external)

Dutch international Davy Klaasen has turned down a move to Rangers, with the free agent set to sign for Ajax. (Nicolo Schira on X, external)

Read the rest of Tuesday's Scottish gossip.

If Rangers went on and scored three after Tom Lawrence's opener on Sunday, of course it would have made it a more comfortable afternoon. But I had a feeling Dundee United would give them a tough day.

They got themselves in front then had to handle that mentally because everyone was looking at their mindset after getting battered by Celtic. There were a few positives but it wasn't easy.

On the evidence of what I've seen this season, they just need to hang in there for now, get their new players fit, find their strongest XI and put some sort of challenge together.

They just need to stay with Celtic. That's the their biggest priority. They can't make it easy for them and they need to keep the pressure on.

Former Rangers striker Billy Dodds was talking to BBC Scotland's Nick McPheat.

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Former Rangers chairman Dave King says he is "available" to return to his former role and claims the club is "in crisis".

Rangers announced on Saturday that John Bennett had stepped down as chairman "with immediate effect for health reasons".

Bennett, who took over from Douglas Park in April last year, has been replaced in the short term by former club director John Gilligan.

The Ibrox side are without a CEO following James Bisgrove's departure in May, and are already five points behind Celtic in the league after just five games.

"I just hope John is well because I don’t know how tough it is being chairman at Rangers at any time," King told TalkSport, external.

"But having seen John stepping down, under normal circumstances I would expect someone from the board to step up.

"And when I heard that the board have decided to go outside and get a head hunter and try and get a chairman, a CEO – the job at Rangers is very, very different from chairing a public company.

"Right now the club is in crisis, the extent of it I don’t know, only those inside do know.

"But certainly the operational issues within Rangers are a challenge.

"A lot of the policy, procedures and processes have been in place at the time that I stepped down have been hollowed out during Douglas' reign.

"And I thought if no one is going to step up and we're going to have to go to some external city-type appointment – I'm absolutely certain will not take the club forwards – but as the leading shareholder, perhaps I can step up for a period of time.

"So I've made an announcement. I'm available to do that. I think something has to happen fairly quickly. The club lacks leadership in all aspects of the club."

King also criticised the circumstances which led to Rangers playing home games at Hampden Park at the start of this season, following a delay to works on Ibrox's Copland Stand.

"Something as simple as a stadium, you don't have to be smart to know that if you've got a project like that, it must start 10 minutes after the team finishes the last game in May," King said.

"If you’re going to be open to Ibrox for absolutely vital European, Champions League qualifiers, where Ibrox is a huge advantage for Rangers. We've seen it against bigger and better teams.

"And to have started that project with some of the steel still in China just indicates a lack of basic project management, basic management skills.

"And I’m afraid that's what’s happening right throughout the club at the moment.

"I think it needs someone to step in quite quickly. So just throwing my name in, it's now up to the board, I guess, to decide what they want to do with it.

"I think there's two major objectives. One is to reintroduce the operational policies, controls, procedures, processes that have gone missing over the last couple of years and get the club up to speed there, and secondly, to find a new investor.

"A two-year period, is the time I was thinking of where I can, first of all, get the club up and running properly and have a proper plan going forward as to how we're going to bridge the gap."

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Robin Propper is keen to experience the Ibrox atmosphere for the first time after praising Rangers' away support during the 1-0 win at Tannadice on Sunday.

The Dutch centre-back joined Philippe Clement's side in August but a delayed refurbishment to the stadium meant Rangers have played their opening home games pf the season at Hampden.

The Glasgow club will return to Ibrox next weekend for their Premier Sports Cup quarter-final against Dundee.

"It was nice on Sunday to see how many fans were cheering for us," Propper said after Rangers' 1-0 victory over Dundee United.

"I've never experienced that before in Holland at an away stadium with so many fans.

"If we can do that at a game at Ibrox together, that would be really special. I think that's going to make a big difference for us.

"I'm looking forward to stepping out there a lot. That's one of the reasons you come to Rangers – to be part of that with the fans in the stadium. I'm really glad it's now going to happen.

"I hope we can improve and do a lot of good things there."

Jonathan Sutherland
Sportscene presenter

Rangers claimed a much-needed three points with victory at Tannadice on Sunday.

Tom Lawrence was the spark for Philippe Clement's side. The Wales international took his goal well and always looked the most likely player to make something happen.

We asked for your thoughts after Rangers beat Dundee United 1-0 in the Scottish Premiership.

Here's a taste of what you had to say:

Nathan: We had 60% possession and six out of 11 shots on target - that's a good day, a game mostly controlled in my opinion. A second goal to ease nervousness would have been good but we won. I don't know why folk are making an issue out of it all because of the game against Celtic that didn’t swing our way, where we had same possession and shots.

Tom: Not a great performance by any stretch of the imagination, never looked like scoring a second goal. If Dundee United had scored and got a draw it wouldn't have been a surprise, but all that matters is the three points so job done in that respect.

Bill: It will take time for the new signings to get up to speed. Hamza Igamane looks like he has a full box of tools in his locker, we just have to see how Philippe Clement uses him, but seems to be a prospect. Players need to toughen up and become aware of how physical the league is.

Steven: I thought we started the game very well and pinned United back. We seemed to take our foot off the gas a little towards the end of the first half and never really got going in the second. Lots of noise around a poor start to the season and the negative narrative from most outside the club isn’t helping. James Tavernier continues to worry me at times. Three important points.

Phil: We are a few games into the season now and Rangers have still to play for a full ninety minutes. We seem to fly out of the blocks and then after about twenty minutes or so it all grinds to a predictable halt.

Peter: Decent three points as it might have been a slippery game. We've said many times a striker was a priority. Good play by Tom Lawrence, who could have had a hattrick but these away games you take any kind of win. Same as before, a good first half, toiled second half, but United shot shy, I was so surprised. We needed a boost after the last game; it'll be good to be back at Ibrox next week.

Allan: Great start causing Jim Goodwin to change formation. A solid performance, we could have won by more. New players getting some time on the pitch. Three points, a clean sheet, encouraging. Igamane looks like a good prospect.

Gordon: Some lovely football at times in the match from Rangers. The longer the team play together the better they will get. Fans need to get off Tavernier's back and remember he is asked to attack and has scored a barrel load of goals for us. When teams get in behind his position the manager should have planned to have others cover the space.

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• Rangers have kept a clean sheet in three of their five games, only Celtic - with five - have done this more often in the Premiership this season.

• Tom Lawrence attempted five shots in this game, the highest total for a Rangers player in the Premiership this season.

• Declan Gallagher attempted 52 passes in this game, the highest total for a Dundee United player in the Premiership this season.

• Dundee United failed to attempt a shot on target in this game, it's the first time they failed to attempt a shot on target in a game in the Premiership since facing Rangers on 8 May 2022.

Watch highlights as Rangers beat Dundee United in the Scottish Premiership.

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"I think I might be the best person to do it for two years," says Dave King as he offers to return as Rangers chairman. (Daily Record), external

"It's not his decision, it's a doctor's decision," said manager Philippe Clement of John Bennett standing down as chairman at Rangers due to ill health. (Daily Record), external

Read the rest of Monday's Scottish gossip.

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Rangers manager Philippe Clement was pleased with his side's performance in winning at what he viewed as a difficult venue, but what was your view of the 1-0 win away to Dundee United?

Give us your reaction here., external

Rangers manager Philippe Clement was pleased to secure a 1-0 win away to previously unbeaten Dundee United but admitted his rebuilt side still "need time to work on things".

"We are on the right track," the Belgian told BBC Scotland's Sportsound. "It's a big result because it's a hard place to come to."

Midfielder Tom Lawrence's seventh-minute goal proved the difference.

"It's massive to start the game really well," Clement said. "After about 20 minutes, we had 80% of ball possession.

"The players did a really good job. The only thing we missed was scoring the second goal to kill off the game - then you're more comfortable.

"At 1-0, it always stays dangerous, so it is massive to keep a clean sheet as well.

"We didn't give away chances - that's another good thing. We defended well. The set pieces, we were on top of them and won the duels."

Clement thought Tom Lawrence impressed in the No.10 role behind the striker.

"Tom is getting fitter and fitter," he added. "Last season, he had several injuries. It's important he can continue in this way.

"We're very pleased about the goal, but also his play without ball."