Rangers’ off-field issues continue to generate as many headlines as their on-field performances>
This week we have heard their interim chairman John Gilligan attempt to dampen the disquiet surrounding the board’s perceived shortcomings in the eyes of some vocal critics.
At least the board were able to take their usual seats in the Ibrox directors’ box this past weekend, while most fans were able to return to their own seats of choice as the stadium reopened, albeit with the top tier of the Copland Road stand still closed.
Even allowing for that, Ibrox wasn’t full for the League Cup quarter-final win over Dundee – a comfortable enough victory, which could have been more emphatic.
Like the previous week’s win at Tannadice, it featured some periods of impressive play but also examples of a lack of ruthlessness and occasional vulnerability that the likes of Swedish league leaders Malmo may be able to exploit.
The club’s opening Europa League match will bring back memories of a couple of nights Rangers supporters would sooner forget – both Champions League qualifiers, both ending in bitter disappointment.
This time, the draw that sent them tumbling out in 2011 would not be such a bad way to kick off the campaign against a side who are running away with their domestic title and fell at the final qualifying hurdle for the Champions League against Sparta Prague.
Only positive results against Malmo and Hibernian on Sunday back at Ibrox again will begin to quell the grumblings from a dissatisfied section of the support.