At quarter to two today, there were roughly ten thousand football fans who poured out onto the streets of Govan. Ten thousand fans that braved the weather and actually found the strength to stay until the referee put them out of their misery.
Ten thousand very disheartened and disgruntled Rangers fans.
And after the ninety minutes of football they had endured, they had every right to be. As Rangers attempted to crawl over the finishing line in the Third Division, the team produced a flat and lacklustre display with positives extremely difficult to come by. Those who stayed until the end voiced their discontent, but the number of fans that decided not to attend today’s game spoke just as loudly.
Despite the other circumstances, and the bizarre official attendance handed out, there were many empty seats at Ibrox Stadium today. With the club’s season ticket numbers sitting at 38,000 at the present moment, it is obvious many chose not to take up their seat today, and who can honestly blame them? The last two games have now ended in the team dropping points, but this is simply the tip of the iceberg as standards simply haven’t been sufficient all season, and if this worrying dip continues the fans have to start seriously pushing the questions. If season ticket holders aren’t turning up when they have already paid for their seat, what is there to suggest they will renew their ticket next season?
Right now, the club will realise they may have a difficult task to shift season tickets during this pre season. Reasons such as a transfer embargo and the bizarre league reconstruction plans are already making the task more difficult. These are circumstances that are out with the control of the club, but can Rangers truly risk making this task even more difficult for themselves?
As things stand, a large section of the support is extremely disillusioned by what they are witnessing on the pitch. Although many will of course renew their ticket out of loyalty and a love of the club, there are many that will put serious consideration into the renewing of the season ticket. Is it representing value for money? Are they getting any entertainment out of it? And can the club truly justify increasing the price of the season tickets? In general, it is a ritual for many to spend their Saturday afternoons at Ibrox, but what happens when fans stop enjoying the product? The fact is what is being produced at the present moment is nowhere near the standard that would be expected. Although expectations have needed to be adjusted, the lack of determination and ideas coming from the team at the moment is not tolerable.
When the time for season ticket renewals come, the fans need something to convince them that it is right for them to continue on. Change is needed. As many have stated, there could have been room for a complete overhaul of the system at the start of this season. This opportunity has not been taken yet, but the chance is still there. If a clear and succinct structure showing how the club can progress on the pitch is made evident, it can give the fans hope – something that many are lacking in at the moment. The fans deserve the right to know what it is they are spending their hard-earned money on. They need to know that there is a plan; a plan to rectify the slump the team has entered.
Of course, there have been years where season ticket numbers have slumped – it is the sort of issue that comes and goes every now and then. However, the club finds itself in a unique position. This is a time where revenue is needed like never before as the club continue the re-building of this fine institution. It is much needed income, and Rangers must realise they cannot afford to allow season ticket numbers to drop.
What the fans are receiving at this present moment is simply not good enough – the club cannot afford to let the fans down. When season tickets flew out the door last season, it was a show of loyalty and solidarity. These fans don’t want to hear talk of “£100 million turnover” plans, they want to know how they can be entertained on a Saturday afternoon, as right now it is proving extremely difficult.
garrycarmody 
Rangers take note