'Honking' Rangers 24/25 third kit leaks out as frightened fans claim it reminds them of IRN-BRU
Rangers' alleged third kit for next season has been leaked online but fans have given the orange number a huge thumbs down - with one punter comparing it to a can of IRN-BRU.
The Ibrox side's title challenge is all but over for this season after defeat to Celtic at the weekend, although they still have the Scottish Cup to contest against their old rivals at Hampden on May 25 as they look to end the campaign on a high with a second domestic trophy.
However, attention is already turning to the 2024/25 season with both home and away kits being leaked on line so far. And now another Castore third kit design has appeared on website footyheadlines.com but if social media reaction is anything to go by then it isn't going to be a winner with fans. Rangers had orange change kits in 2002/03 when Alex McLeish was in charge and in 2018/19 under Steven Gerrard. But this one, complete with blue collar and trim and blue dots has come in for criticism.
One said: "I kind of like that but my first thought was Irn Bru," with another adding: "At least have Irn Bru as a sponsor then." But others were less complimentary. A fan said: "Horrendous, genuinely one of the worst I've ever seen." Another added: "It's like a cricket shirt. Honking. Castore seriously needs to go after this season."
In 2019, pundit Michael Stewart said Rangers don't help sectarian issues amongst their fans by using orange strips. At a time when UEFA punished the club for a section of supporters singing sectarian songs against St Joseph's in July's Europa League qualifier he said: "We talk about what else the club can do, but in my opinion it doesn't help when the club sells orange strips or orange kits.
"What has orange got to do with Rangers Football Club? Other than playing up to that minority that wants to partake in that sectarian behaviour."
But at the time fellow BBC pundit and former Ibrox striker Billy Dodds argued it was a nod to the Dutch influence on the club when Dick Advocaat was boss and there was an influx of players from the Netherlands. Rangers fans turned Hampden into a sea of orange in tribute for the Scottish Cup final against Aberdeen.