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Daily Record
Daily Record
Sport
Mark Pirie

Rangers offer to convert Ibrox into a vaccine hub as club issue 'stand ready' government letter promise

Rangers have joined Scotland's vaccine effort by offering to turn Ibrox into a vaccination hub.

The bid was made to the UK Government and the Scottish Government as the club offered to back the national rollout in a letter.

They would become the first Premiership side to hand over their stadium for the support effort, although Celtic have revealed they also put forward the use of Celtic Park weeks ago.

Aberdeen made a similar offer to let NHS Grampian into Pittodrie but that plan appears to have stalled because the ground will not be available to use on match days.

Record Sport also revealed Dunfermline Athletic are set to become the first Scottish club to hand over its stadium to the NHS for the roll out of the  Covid-19  vaccine, with work to convert East End Park already under way.

A club letter from managing director Stewart Robertson said they "wished offer our facilities at Ibrox to assist the national COVID-19 vaccination programme" and was sent to "Her Majesty’s Government and the Scottish Government."

It read: "We are living in unprecedented times which require cooperation, action and input from all across society. Rangers Football Club would be delighted to support staff from the National Health Service, and the British military personnel involved in the country-wide vaccination process.

"I have already identified relevant expertise within my staff who can be placed at your immediate disposal, and we all stand ready to do everything we can to support the national effort, to vaccinate the population.

"We have large areas around the stadium normally used for matchday parking, and we have other facilities which could also be of use.

(Rangers FC/PA Images)

"As a club, we have ongoing and excellent relations with Police Scotland, with whom we regularly work to ensure the safe and efficient management of people and vehicles.

"In the meantime, please pass sincere thanks from all at Rangers Football Club, to the health and other professionals involved in combating the COVID-19 pandemic."

A statement from Celtic noted that they have also been in contact about putting forward their home ground.

A spokesman said: "We were pleased a number of weeks ago to offer Celtic Park to support in the vaccine effort.
 
“We have worked tirelessly to support those affected by the pandemic, with over £1 million in support already distributed to people in need.
 
“Our Foundation staff have been working around the clock to deliver programmes with real and meaningful benefit."

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