RANGERS fans are facing season ticket hikes of around 20 per cent as the club return to the top tier of Scottish football.

The club has said it has decided to set the prices for watching the side in the Scottish Premiership in 2016/17 at levels similar to where they were when the Ibrox side last played in top flight alongside arch rivals Celtic in five years ago.

Details of the pricing emerged as season ticket renewals were opened for securing seats for football in the Scottish Premiership in 2016/17.

The Herald:

Rangers said the prices are no dearer than they were the last time the club was in top flight. One fan reported that his season ticket in the Bar 72 West had gone up from £787 to £945 and a pass in the Club Deck went up from £268 to £315.

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A ticket in the Copland Rear went up from £348 to £420 for the forthcoming Premiership campaign.

Andy Kerr, president of the Rangers Supporters Supporters Assembly said there would be a "mixed reaction" to the season ticket hike.

He said: "It's like anything, if you increase, people are going to say, is it too much, it's a bridge too far, and affordability is so important.

The Herald:

"But there is also the need to generate the sort of income that is needed to compete in going up a level. "I think the majority will say hopefully it is investment and working capital for the club, to sign better players. One of the tests in people's minds will be that they will want to see that investment spent wisely."

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Rangers sold 38,000 season tickets this season in the second tier of Scottish football, over 10,000 up on the previous season when some fans organised a boycott in a protest over how a previous Mike Ashley-backed board were running the club.

Rangers chairman Dave King had spoken of his desire to see season ticket sales soar to a record number of 45,000.

Rangers have said supporters have returned to Ibrox in "great numbers" since the regime change headed by Dave King who is said to be "confident" the stadium will be full as Rangers take their place in the top flight of Scottish football.

Mr King said: “The board and management thank all fans for their continued support over the last year. It is gratifying that we achieved our two main objectives of stabilising the club’s management structure and finances while simultaneously securing promotion to the Premiership.

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“The Championship was won in style by a team put together at short notice by Mark Warburton and David Weir and because of their expertise, Rangers can look forward to competing again with Scottish football’s best. However, while this is certainly a cause for celebration, it is not yet mission accomplished.

The Herald:

“We must now concentrate on the next chapter and make sure we continue adding to our club’s unsurpassed list of domestic successes.

“We sold a remarkable 38,000 season tickets during the campaign about to be concluded – hopefully with further Rangers success at Hampden on May 21. I anticipate that the numbers will increase for the new season and a record for season ticket sales might be achieved.

“Income from season tickets has been the key factor in determining the quality of the squad available to the manager and will be again as we recruit additional players for next season and beyond.

The Herald:

“All proceeds of ticket sales are spent on the club’s football activities and, now that we are back in the Premiership, ticket prices have been adjusted to accord with that. However, they have been retained at the price level of five years ago when Rangers last competed in that league.

“I would like to thank every fan in advance for your support. It really is good to be back and competing where we belong.”

Rangers manager Mark Warburton said: "As far as I am aware the prices have gone back to what they were the last time Rangers were in the Premier League. So there is a responsibility for us. We have a responsibility to deliver a level of performance that is appropriate for that.

The Herald:

"The Rangers fans buying season tickets wouldn't accept us going for second, third, fourth, fifth... they wouldn't. I'm not saying we are going to win it, I'm saying we are going in that league highly competitive and looking to win every game we go into. That has to be the approach we adopt."