Scottish Giants Offer Stadiums As Vaccine Hubs
Stewart Robertson, Managing Director of Rangers Football Club confirmed that Ibrox was available to NHS.
The bid was made to the UK Government and the Scottish Government as the club offered to back the national rollout.
They would become the first side in the premiership to hand over their stadium for the support effort, although Celtic have revealed they had also put forward the use of Celtic Park.
A similar offer was made by Aberdeen 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.
It is understood that 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.
The letter from Rangers Football Club’s Managing Director, Stewart Robertson, said the Club “wished offer our facilities at Ibrox to assist the national COVID-19 vaccination programme".
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.
"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."
