Rangers fast track Ibrox return date as club could play final Hampden clash THIS weekend

Rangers chiefs could be set to hand back the keys to Hampden as early as this weekend as they push to reopen Ibrox for next month’s Dundee clash.

Record Sport revealed on Monday that Light Blues bosses had finally taken delivery of the third and final consignment of their delayed steel shipment. It was the missing metal’s late arrival from the Far East that forced the club to seek temporary accommodation at the national stadium. But with work on the Copland Road cantilever project now back up and running, chairman John Bennett had identified the September 29 showdown with Hibs as the target for the club’s return home.

However, we can now reveal the club are grafting around the clock in the hope of getting fans back into Ibrox a week earlier than planned for the Premier Sports Cup quarter-final with Tony Docherty’s Dens outfit on September 21. If they receive the green light to return, it means Saturday’s Premiership date against Ross County will be the last time Philippe Clement’s side are forced to call Hampden home.

It would also open the possibility of European action returning to Ibrox on September 26, should UEFA hand a Light Blues a home date in their Europa League opener.

Bennett is desperate to get fans back to Ibrox as soon as possible. His team are currently locked in talks with Glasgow City Council’s building control department as they seek a completion certificate for the multi-million pound upgrade works to the stadium’s disabled facilities.

Gers’ builders will have to satisfy the council’s stadium licensing authority that the ground is fit for purpose before one is granted. The full list of requirements - and the possibility of staging the Dundee fixture in front of a reduced capacity - are still to be