Fresh Ibrox headache as Rangers v St Johnstone fixture set for Sunday night move due to logistical challenges

Rangers’ Scottish Premiership clash with St Johnstone next month could be moved to a Sunday NIGHT due to significant logistical challenges.

The Light Blues confirmed this week that they will return to Ibrox on September 21 for their Premier Sports Cup tie with Dundee, having played their opening home games at Hampden Park due to continued delays on the Copland Road stand which will remains closed while works are completed.

Now, the Daily Record report that the league fixture two weeks after their expected return date has caused an issue for the SPFL to find a quickfire solution to avoid the kick-off time clashing with the Great Scottish Run.

Philippe Clement's side host Lyon in the Europa League on Thursday, October 3, meaning the St Johnstone game will be pushed back to Sunday, October 6. And that coincides with the Great Scottish Run on the same day with all major access routes to Ibrox closed for a large part of the day as competitors take part in the half marathon and 10km challenge around Glasgow.

The run is scheduled to begin at 8.30am with staggered start times until midday, making a 3pm kick-off in Govan a major headache for organisers. The same publication claims that could see the match pushed back to a 5pm kick-off or even an 8pm kick-off time, which would inconvenience travelling fans.

Further developments are expected in the coming days, with the confirmed kick-off time likely to depend on Police Scotland’s advice in terms of the re-opening of roads in the surrounding area such as Paisley Road West, as well as the Kingston bridge.

Rangers’ league cup encounter with St Johnstone at the national stadium went ahead on a Saturday evening and their next round tie against Dundee is scheduled to kick-off at 5.30pm.