Rangers' Hampden move 'better for Scottish football' as willing Queen's Park accommodate Ibrox switch

Callum Davidson has stressed that Queen’s Park’s willingness to accommodate Rangers’ need to play home matches at Hampden was motivated solely by a desire to assist Scottish football.

It’s not clear what financial benefit the Championship club stand to gain from the arrangement, with Rangers having been left desperate for a temporary venue to host home matches following delays to renovation work at the Copland Stand at Ibrox.

Queen’s Park – and their supporters – have now been left unsure when they will be able to return to Hampden for home games. They had intended to do so after the upcoming international break in September after striking a deal with the SFA.

Queen's Park manager Callum Davidson at Lesser Hampden for the William Hill SPFL season launch. Pic:Andy Barr

“It’s only affected my schedule, really,” said Davidson. His team now face Championship title favourites Livingston at 7.45pm at the City Stadium (Lesser Hampden) next Friday as opposed to the following day because Rangers face Motherwell at Hampden that afternoon.

“I think it is brilliant that we could help,” Davidson continued. “Obviously we want to help the big clubs, we want to help Rangers, Celtic, Hearts, Hibs, Aberdeen. But we want to help any club really. We are in a position at Queen’s Park where we can do so. Football is quite fragile on the money side and hopefully Rangers can get full houses when they come here (Hampden) for European games and what have you.

“It is much better for Scottish football if that is the case, far better than them travelling 30 or 40 miles away to get a game,” he added. “I am delighted that Queen’s Park and the people behind the scenes here have managed to help Rangers. If it had been Celtic we would have done the same thing.

“I am always trying to help Scottish football, that is my big thing,” he added. “That is probably the reason I am manager at Queen’s Park. I came here with the remit to try and bring some young Scottish players through. That is my goal. Yes, results are important, but so is the development of young Scottish players.”

Davidson is adamant the uncertainty won’t be affect his own side’s ambitions this season as they seek to gain promotion from a very competitive division. Queen’s Park have already qualified for the second round of the Premier Sports Cup after finishing second in their group behind Hibs. They kick off the league season away to Falkirk on Friday night before facing Livingston, who have already registered their disapproval at the change of schedule, seven days later at the City Stadium, Queen’s Park’s ‘other’ home. Davidson accentuated the positives of playing more games than previously envisaged at the recently revamped ground.

“I don’t think I have seen a better football pitch, even when I played down in England,” he said. “We are working hard to get some temporary stands. Getting Queen’s Park into the Premiership is the ultimate ambition here. We will go back to playing at Hampden and will have some big games there and that will help us.

“We were always going to play the first couple of league games at The City Stadium because of the regeneration of the grass and then go back to Hampden. I don’t really mind where we play as long as the pitch is good. We are pretty spoiled. We have got two fantastic surfaces, great facilities. We are very lucky.”

Davidson was speaking at the launch of a new gambling harm prevention programme that is being delivered to players, staff and supporters at all 42 senior clubs by EPIC Global Solutions as part of the new SPFL title sponsorship deal with William Hill.