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Daily Record
Daily Record
Sport
Matthew Fulton

Rangers and Celtic away allocations in focus as Tony Fitzpatrick dreams of giving Glasgow duo '200 tickets' at St Mirren

St Mirren CEO Tony Fitzpatrick says he'd love nothing more than to give travelling Old Firm fans "200 tickets" in a corner of the SMISA Stadium as Rangers prepare to visit next Sunday.

The Buddies chief is the latest to have his say on the away allocation debate after red zone rules locked out away supporters from both Ibrox and Celtic Park in the Premiership before they were scrapped this month.

Fitzpatrick insists there will come a time when the usual away allocation in the North Stand and Family Stand at St Mirren will be packed with Buddies fans instead.

He doesn't like uprooting St Mirren season ticket holders from their usual seats but says it is a needs-must business decision when Celtic and Rangers come to town – as he just thinks of the next Jamie McGrath that the extra funds will afford.

He told Football Scotland : "With the two stands here going to the Old Firm, I see how it jars, but it's business.

"There's nobody more against Celtic and Rangers fans getting the two stands here than me.

"I've made that statement already but, up until the day we can fill this with St Mirren supporters, it's crazy for us not to do that.

"The money it brings in gets us a player. Every time I see Celtic and Rangers fans in the two stands behind the goals, I always think: 'We can buy a player'.

"That gets me through it.

"I'd love nothing more than this place full of St Mirren fans and we're giving Celtic and Rangers 200 tickets and they're in a corner somewhere.

"That's a dream I've always had.

"We don't like giving our tickets away, but a football club is a business as well. We need to allow it for us to grow."

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