RANGERS chairman Dave King has said it will take several years to bring the club's facilities up to standard.
Mr King, in a new statement addressing fans questions said it is "as as unfortunate as it is true that Ibrox and its surrounding environs have been sadly neglected for many years – even prior to the Craig Whyte takeover".
He asserted that during the final years of Sir David Murray's reign at Ibrox the bank put club finances "under so much pressure" that stadium upkeep was "relegated to essentials only".
He said there were no plans to extend the capacity of the stadium at present as that is "structurally not feasible".
Ibrox required "significant maintenance work" and there needs to be a major overhaul of the roofs of the Broomloan, Copland and Sandy Jardine stands.
Disabled facilities need to be "brought in to the 21st century" and the concourse facilities require upgrading. Several corporate hospitality suites are being upgraded over the course of this summer.
He said: "The present reality is that it will take several years to bring the facilities up to the standard that our supporters and the local community deserve – but the board is determined to do that.
"As I have stated previously, a significant investment has already gone into behind the scenes infrastructure and football support structures and that investment level will have to increase significantly in the coming years.
"We can’t only invest in the squad of players. Supporters need a stadium and environment in which to enjoy their match day experience that is consistent with the tradition and ambitions of Rangers Football Club."
A master-planning exercise has started to develop a strategy which will improve the stadium and adjacent areas, "enhancing the matchday experience for fans, including a fanzone and other facilities which will be utilised not only on match days".
"The plan is to create facilities capable of being used all year round to the benefit of the local community and to assist our Charitable Foundation and Community Team to deliver an even greater range of services than they do at present," he said.
The club hoped to work alongside stakeholders in the Govan area on the masterplan including Glasgow City Council, Glasgow Housing Association, NHS, local schools, and community councils amongst others.
Last year there were plans by one fan to co-ordinate an army of tradesmen to refurbish Ibrox, but they fell flat after the co-ordinator became embroiled in a row over racist material.
Semi-retired painter and decorator Allan Woods had amassed 200 tradesmen and 500 unskilled volunteers to help refurbish Ibrox and Murray Park and was expected to discuss it with the board.
But his account, which was used to launch the appeal for volunteers on Rangers Pride sparked a social media row after a litany of racist comments were discovered on his page.
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