The Scotsman’s chief football writer Alan Pattullo discusses Rangers’ 130-day exile from Ibrox in the shadow of Walter Smith’s statue.
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00:00Hello, I'm Alan Tullow, football writer for the Scotsman. As you can see, I'm outside
00:06Ibrox Stadium, home of Rangers FC. It's hard to believe it's the middle of September, it's
00:12autumn, the sun's been splitting the sky here in Glasgow all day. Something else, it's hard
00:18to believe, Rangers haven't played a whole match here at Ibrox Stadium since the end
00:24of last season. It's now autumn and the last game they played was against Dundee on the
00:3114th of May in the 1-5-2. So they are preparing to make a very welcome return to Ibrox against
00:40the same opposition, Dundee again, in the quarter-final of the League Cup. It's a supremely
00:46welcome return to Ibrox. I think I'm right in saying it's a 130-day exile. Again, I think
00:52I'm right in saying that's the longest exile Rangers have endured from Ibrox, out with
00:58Covid times since the Second World War. So it really does feel very significant. Something
01:04else to add significance to the occasion is the statue behind me, Walter Smith, the legendary
01:11manager of Rangers, Walter Smith, was unveiled at the Memorial of the Scottish Cup on the
01:1625th of May. The ages have not played a match since then. So I'm sure Walter's been wondering
01:23where everyone's got to, where all the crowds are. He's still got back here this Saturday
01:29again against Dundee and I'm sure that will be a very welcome sight for him and a welcome
01:35opportunity for Rangers fans too to come and pay homage to this excellent statue by sculptor
01:40Douglas Jemmings. I was here a couple of days ago, there were some crushed barriers around
01:44it. Those have since been taken away, so it's now possible to come and have a close-up
01:49look at the detail and it really is a remarkable piece of art.
01:54With these and Rangers not having played here for so long, again, see behind me, Copeland
02:00Road stands, that's where I'm going for renovation work. The delay getting steel from the Far
02:06East to Glasgow, a controversial delay, meant Rangers couldn't start the season here at
02:11Highbrooks and they've been forced to play elsewhere and in part not be popular with
02:16the fans, not be popular with the players, I imagine, nor with manager Felike Vermont.
02:22But I'm making a return this weekend. I'll be there for the big game against Dundee.
02:29Read to my match report at scottsman.com. I'm also doing a preview of the game to be
02:33on scottsman.com, log in there. It's going to be a big out. I'm sure the Walter Smith
02:39family will be very proud to know about it. We'll be fighting here for the masses to
02:45admire and enjoy. Thank you, Kevin Henson.