Ticket Restrictions For Rangers

Pic: Jeff Holmes

Rangers have been restricted to 1,500 tickets for the second leg of the Scottish Premiership play-off final at Fir Park following a stand-off with Motherwell.

It is understood Motherwell asked for 2,000 tickets for Thursday's Ibrox clash and believed they had a deal which would have seen them hand over the entire South Stand at Fir Park, which holds more than 4,800 fans, to visiting supporters on Sunday.

But Rangers began selling tickets to their own fans in those areas shortly after their semi-final win over Hibernian was secured on Saturday and then offered Motherwell only 950 tickets for Ibrox.

Negotiations between the clubs failed to secure a compromise deal and Motherwell announced their allocations on Monday lunchtime.

A club statement read: "After discussions between both clubs, Motherwell fans have been allocated 950 tickets for Ibrox for Thursday night's game, priced at £5.

"For the second leg, Rangers have been allocated 1,500 tickets for the Maxim Office Park South Stand."

The situation exactly mirrors the situation for the semi-final, when Hibs limited the Rangers allocation after being denied their request for more tickets.

There were about 9,000 empty seats at Ibrox for the first leg and the away stand at Easter Road was less than half full.

Motherwell sold out their Ibrox allocation shortly after putting them on sale while taking new measures to stop Rangers fans from buying tickets for the home end at Fir Park.

Meanwhile, defender Darren McGregor has won the player of the year award from both Rangers fans and his team-mates. The former St Mirren defender, who joined last summer, told the club's official website: "Coming in I was really just expecting to be a bit-part player at Rangers because I knew it would be tough because of the calibre of player here.

"I just kept myself to myself and worked hard as I've always done. I've been lucky that both gaffers have taken a shine to me and they've played me in various positions and I've always tried my best.

"It's been great and looking at it just now I'm 50 games in, so I need to pinch myself sometimes that I'm at a club like this and I'm playing consistently.

"I've never got ahead of myself, though, and I never get too low when there have been disappointments. I never get too high either, I just try to keep an even plateau until the end of the season and then I can reflect.

"That keeps me grounded but I've loved my time at the club so far and being part of the squad.

"I'm privileged and thankful to be walking into Murray Park every day. It was only five years ago I was folding jeans in a clothes store and playing part-time football at Cowdenbeath and then I was given the chance at St Mirren.

"Obviously the old gaffer Ally gave me this opportunity here and it's just incredible. Now I'm 10 months in and I've played 50 games for one of the biggest clubs in Britain. I just want to stay here as long as they want me."