Just a short drive from one end of Glasgow to the other, the distance between Ibrox and Hampden Park is a mere four miles. Despite the ongoing roadworks that continue to plague the city centre, the journey would take no more than 10 minutes.
Yet, despite being a stone’s throw from their natural surroundings of Edmiston Drive, Rangers fans will feel a world away from home when they arrive at Mount Florida this afternoon.
Playing host to Motherwell this afternoon in what marks Rangers’ first ‘home’ league game of the new season, this marks the start of their occupancy of the national stadium.
The question on everyone’s mind is, how long will their tenancy last? Rangers chairman John Bennett has already admitted that he cannot offer any guarantees about when they might return to Ibrox.
So, while Rangers hope it’s just a short-term let at Hampden, the truth of the matter is that nobody knows how long this temporary arrangement will be required.
Hampden has been given a Rangers-style makeover ahead of the Ibrox club’s first match there
Clement insists he was fully involved in discussions over where Rangers would play this season
Hampden will host Rangers’ home games until at the end of September, and possibly longer
Hampden will be their home for the foreseeable future, possibly beyond the end of September.
Manager Philippe Clement admits that his hands are tied, likening the situation to building a new house.
In the meantime, all he and his players can do is try to make the best of a bad situation, with today’s Premiership clash with Motherwell being followed by the home leg of their Champions League qualifier with Dynamo Kyiv.
‘We’re looking forward to it because we need to adapt,’ said Clement of the move to Hampden. ‘We know one thing, we will have 50,000 fans behind the team.
‘That’s a really important thing, that you have that amount of people. It could have been a stadium, for example, with only 20,000 people. That’s different.
‘We have the same amount that you have at Ibrox. I know the fans will be behind the team to push them.
Clement chats to Man Utd boss Erik ten Hag during a summer friendly at Murrayfield
‘It’s a little bit of new scenery. But in that way, I have the experience a few times already with half our fans at Hampden, who made a very good atmosphere.
‘So, now we are at home, they will be doubled up. I expect more than double the atmosphere from the fans.
‘I’ve been involved in that [decision to move to Hampden] and, for me, it was the best alternative.
‘It would have been different if it was at Murrayfield. Or it would have been in a big stadium in England for example. There were also other possibilities.
‘So I’m really happy that the club could find a solution. It’s the best alternative.’
The ongoing delay around renovation works, and the botched shipment of materials, has been a thoroughly embarrassing episode for the club.
Dutch defender Robin Propper could make his debut for Rangers against Motherwell
Club chairman Bennett has already apologised to supporters and admitted just a couple of weeks ago that the return date to Ibrox could well ‘slip beyond’ the end of September.
Asked if he had sought any assurances from club chiefs over how long Rangers will be at Hampden, Clement admitted he simply doesn’t know.
‘I don’t know if you bought a house or you built a house one time,’ quipped the Belgian. ‘It’s in the hands of other people.
‘It’s not in the hands of the club. So until everything is done perfectly, there are no guarantees around that.’
Clement confirmed that there are no new injury or fitness concerns after the 1-1 draw with Dynamo Kyiv in midweek. Vaclav Cerny and Jefte both impressed from the bench against the Ukrainians and could be pushing for involvement against Motherwell.
So, too, could Robin Propper, the 30-year-old Dutch centre-back who recently joined Rangers from FC Twente.