No statement was ever going to be enough this week from Rangers.

The fact it was a week late didn’t help matters either.

John Bennett has been plunged into a terrible situation with shipping delays making Ibrox unplayable at the start of this season after planned works in the Copland Road stand. Still, as chairman, he should never have allowed the situation to develop like this and hasn't responded well enough in the eyes of many supporters.

It’s been nearly two years since we last heard from Bennett which in itself isn’t good enough and something we all agree needs to improve. Whilst you can't respond to everything, you must react to some events.

The role of chairman at Rangers requires you to be front and centre, leading the club. It's a very hands-on position.

Work on the Copland Road stand has been delayed  (Image: SNS)

The chairman could counter that criticism by saying the team at Ibrox is strong enough but the fact is we're without several key staffing positions throughout the club.

Regardless, Rangers' stadium situation has been a shambolic mess. The fans deserve so much better.

Yes, the statement this week was welcome but it was a holding statement that was weeks overdue and told the fans nothing concrete. That's where the anger came from. Rather than reacting to fan pressure, that statement should've arrived long before. There's no doubt that a PR win is required soon to lift the spirits of all who follow Rangers, with a general anger present in the support.

The statement would have landed better if it had dropped earlier, but it was at least an apology and hopefully the beginning of something better. There's no doubt that the club need to learn from this and become more aware of supporter's feelings. Communication will always be key at Rangers.

Away from the off-field headlines, there have been no new arrivals at Ibrox. Earlier this week, speaking to the Rangers Review from the club's pre-season base in the Netherlands, Philippe Clement had this to say about the club's business so far: "Hamza Igamane. He will not be ready to start. He’s never trained or played physically at this level. He comes out of a holiday too, so we need to build him up. We have other players like Connor Barron and Jefte who can get there faster.

“We have some players who have come in who are longer term, like Clinton Nsiala. He has a lot of talent, but he needs the experience and he needs to learn a lot of things. I don’t expect him to be a starting player."

It was a paragraph that confirms what we all know - Rangers still have so much work to undertake this summer. Club sources have offered reassurances that plenty of business will take place between now and the end of the window and that can't come soon enough.

That’s all fine and well, but people are tetchy and already miffed at the stadium mess and lack of communication coming out of the club - many are looking ahead to the upcoming season with more than a sense of trepidation. 

Read more:

Philippe Clement interview: Transfer update and Hamza Igamane timeframe

Philippe Clement breaks Ibrox delay silence and reacts to temporary Hampden move

As for Clement, he still requires a rebuild and needs things to fall into place that are out of his control. The Belgian won't use excuses and he remains a manager I have great hope for. However, Rangers must seriously improve his squad before September for this season to be successful. 

Clement has already made it clear he doesn’t have a "Magic stick" and as a club, we can't expect him to constantly defy the odds in this upcoming campaign. The groundwork must be laid for a season that brings silverware.

Right from the top, things must be so much better at Rangers.

The fans deserve better. After all the demands on us are constantly high; pay this, pay that, go here, go there. It's not outlandish to expect more in return.