Rangers Women’s team is already amidst a significant evolution, but any future growth will be rooted in Scotland rather than pursuing a controversial move to England’s Women’s Super League (WSL).
Managing director Donald Gillies outlined his vision in a discussion with the club’s Fans Advisory Board, highlighting plans for long-term infrastructure development and greater investment in the domestic game.
Currently playing at Broadwood Stadium in Cumbernauld, Rangers Women enjoy a positive relationship with North Lanarkshire Council.
However, Gillies admitted that the club must consider the future and the possibility of securing a permanent home in Glasgow.
He said: “It’s really good, actually – North Lanarkshire Council support us with requests and are creative themselves with how the stadium can operate better for supporters.
“However, we have to look down the road and see what our stadium infrastructure could look like in future. Being a club in Glasgow, and having a home there is an important factor for the future.
“To not look at ways of creating a stadium in Glasgow that represents Rangers and its supporters would be very short sighted.
“However, I’m mindful of the sentiment here – people will rightly ask what it would cost, how can the club pay, even why should the club pay. I get that.”
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Gillies suggested that a dedicated women's football stadium, shared with other Glasgow-based teams and the Scotland national team, could be a game-changer.
He believes Hampden Park is proving unsuitable for the women’s international side, with 8,000-strong crowds struggling to generate an atmosphere in the 52,000-seater stadium.
“Hampden isn’t working for the women’s national team,” Gillies insisted.
“It’s too big for attendances of 8,000. But if you had a fit for purpose stadium specifically for women’s football, with restaurants and other facilities, a grass playing surface and capacity of 8,000, then suddenly you’re looking at stadia sell-outs and a better atmosphere and matchday experience.
“You could have that Friday Night Football and two games on a Sunday, one after the other.
“You’d have a fit for purpose stadium with two sets of home and away dressing rooms, on opposite sides of the pitch. Strategically, that needs to be part of the conversation.
“I believe it should be the next landmark moment for the women’s game in Scotland.
“It would be fundamental for improving the product for the whole of the women’s game in this country. As much as Broadwood is great, the matchday experience isn't where it needs to be.”
While the prospect of a new stadium is exciting for some, Gillies acknowledged the financial reality and potential backlash from fans who might prefer investment in the men’s squad.
“If the club committed millions to a stadium in partnership with others, there would be uproar, admitted Stuart Langan of the Fans Advisory Board.
“Fans would want that money spent on a striker for Philippe Clement.”
Gillies agreed that any development would need to be a multi-club and multi-organisation effort.
“I don’t think we would be pushing for this in isolation. It’s a role Rangers could play to help drive forward Scottish women’s football as a whole,” he added.
“Our responsibility is to create the best platform for Scottish players and the Scottish women’s game,” he explained.
Gillies also revealed that he now reports directly to Rangers’ new CEO, Patrick Stewart, and is working to establish a clearer structure for the women’s team within the club.
His goal is to enhance commercial opportunities, improve media portrayal, and build a sustainable long-term strategy for Rangers Women.
