19 February 2020

Rangers women's boss Vignal believes SWPL games played at Ibrox and Celtic Park could be near sell-outs

Rangers women's manager Gregory Vignal believes if they were to face Celtic at Ibrox or Celtic Park they could attract near-sell out crowds.

Ibrox is Rangers men's stadium which holds a capacity of 50,000, while the home of Celtic's men holds 60,000. 

Rangers women are preparing to kick off their 2020 season, which begins on Friday when they face Glasgow City in the Scottish Women's Premier League.

Former Rangers and Liverpool midfielder Vignal said: "I have said it before and I will say it again: I am sure that if we played a game between ourselves and Celtic at Ibrox then people would be surprised at how many people would come to see it.

"They would come close to filling the stadium, I'm sure of it."

However, Vignal does concede that due to the men playing so many games that the pitch won't be 'the best', but insists it would still be exciting for the players.

"The problem is with the club because the men’s team are playing so many games and right now the pitch is maybe not the very best but even if we played the game at Celtic Park then I am sure it would be the same. And the players would love it – it would be a great experience and it would be such an exciting way to play the game," he added.

"Arsenal and Tottenham played and there were more than 38,000 people there in November. I am certain it would be the same in Glasgow. I would love to see it happen. It was the same in Liverpool when they played Everton – there was a huge crowd. Why would it not happen here?"

Rangers and Celtic are the only professional teams in the SWPL and Vignal believes it can only be positive for Scotland's national side for domestic clubs to become full-time outfits.

He said: "It should make the level go up and although it will not happen immediately already we can see the difference just in the past few months with the quality. 

"You have more time and it is an exciting period. I am so excited to be involved in it and I feel proud to have this opportunity."

The best videos delivered daily

Watch the stories that matter, right from your inbox