Celtic undergo stadium works as safety measures put in place for return of Rangers fans

Work is ongoing at Celtic Park to implement safety measures ahead of the return of Rangers fans, we can reveal.

Neither Glasgow side has been able to take travelling supporters across the city with them for away Old Firm clashes in recent times, with matches played out in front of home fans only. But a compromise has finally been reached by Scottish football's big two meaning the powderkeg fixture WILL have away supporters this coming season.

And it has now emerged that work is currently being done by Celtic to ready it for rival supporters being allowed back in. Pictures taken today show tradesman at work on the premises, just outside the stand, with one claiming they were "building stairs" in preparation for Rangers games.

And the Glasgow City Council website shows that the Hoops did indeed apply for permission for "Installation of security gates and fencing, alterations to existing fencing with formation of gates and new access steps." And the council granted them this with some minor conditions - mainly that the gates would not open out onto public walkways to potentially disrupt the public.

Neil Doncaster recently spoke on the issue of away fans returning and said that some works still needed to be completed. It would now seem this was what he was referring to.

The SPFL's CEO explained: "Yeah, it's very important that if we can have away fans at games then that happens and we were pleased to announce earlier this year that we expected to see the return of away fans at Rangers Celtic derby games.

"There's some work needs to be completed over the summer to make that happen so we reached out to both those clubs to get an update on those works and we're certainly hopeful that we'll see the return of away fans to those fixtures this season."

We previously told how Celtic had applied for permission to install netting for the Rangers fixtures as well as for a safe-standing section. The council's website still lists these as "under consideration."