But in recent times crowds have plummeted as supporters have waged war with the Rangers board, and a power struggle for control of the reborn club has waged among various factions. Oakley says that the recent poor attendances at Ibrox of 20, or below are the result of supporters being worn down — first by the demise of the club itself, and now with a board of directors who are detested, and who cannot get the club back on its feet.
The once-bulging Ibrox has been a ghost stadium at some recent games. Ashley, the South Africa-based Dave King, plus others are all currently fighting for control of the club. Essentially Rangers, a listed company, is owned by the market, but with some large majority stakeholders now jostling for power. Having originally been chased for 3.
The upshot of all this Ibrox warring has been a dysfunctional and paralysed football club with boycotting fans and no money in the coffers. Ally McCoist, a club legend, and manager until four weeks ago, has walked away in disgust. In recent days he has been spotted out and about in Glasgow suddenly looking 10 years younger. Rangers fans are fed up with it all. When asked, Oakley thought carefully about this. Their fathers are still going, but not the young lads themselves.
Rangers is currently embroiled in a power struggle involving various factions who want to control the club, and the fans are finally showing their teeth in it all as well. Various campaigns, such as Rangers First and Buy Rangers, are aimed at fans buying up shares so that they might eventually own the club themselves. The whole saga has deposited a poisonous atmosphere in Scottish football. The subject has proved just as painful for the Scottish FA, which has done its damndest to tiptoe around the subject.
Despite all newspapers having emphatically reported the death of Rangers in , reporters and commentators now get it in the neck if they so much as broach this subject at all. On top of this, fans of other clubs, such as Celtic for obvious reasons, crow aloud about the fate of Rangers and delight in distinguishing the current from the former. The Ibrox club for decades practiced a sectarian signing policy, which just about everyone concedes today was embarrassing, and some in Scotland who have detested Rangers have long memories in this particular context.
There is no other way of putting it: many view the recent fate of Rangers as the ultimate comeuppance for the great, ugly beast. A ribald, black humour has emerged about Rangers, but it has also led to deep social divisions, online enmity, and an unpleasant atmosphere in Scottish football. But that would happen in any walk of life. I just turn a blind eye.
There but for the grace of God go them. What happened to Rangers could happen to anyone. Police Scotland said the march was "largely peaceful in nature" and it would not be proportionate to disperse the crowd by force. Ch Supt Sutherland added: "We will continue to police these events in a proportionate manner and officers are engaging with those who have gathered and are encouraging dispersal while tackling any anti-social behaviour.
After the match, Rangers tweeted "We are the champions" and repeated an earlier call for fans to celebrate "in a safe and sensible manner" and disperse from Ibrox. Scotland's Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf also called on supporters to take "responsibility" for their actions while level three restrictions remain in place.
He tweeted : "While there is a significant Police presence at Ibrox and across City, this is ultimately about personal responsibility. If you have gathered you should disperse, particularly given yesterday's announcement about Covid in Glasgow. On Friday night, Rangers supporters set off a large number of red flares and smoke bombs on the banks of the River Clyde in Glasgow. The Ibrox club's first title in a decade was wrapped up in early March when thousands of fans gathered outside Ibrox and in Glasgow city centre.
Supporters were also accused of breaking coronavirus rules in Belfast and in Corby - which is known as "little Scotland" - following Rangers' win. Last May, thousands of Liverpool fans flouted social distancing guidelines and gathered outside Anfield to celebrate the club's first Premier league title in 30 years.
And in November hundreds of Celtic supporters defied the level four restrictions and converged on Celtic Park to call for the removal of the club's then manager Neil Lennon.
Image source, Getty Images. Rangers boss Steven Gerrard has been promised "one of the best atmospheres in the world" inside Brondby Stadium on Thursday night.
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