STEVEN GERRARD has today outlined Rangers’ reasoning behind a one-week social media boycott by management and players.
The Light Blues manager pledged his full support behind the idea, as the Gers again highlight to social media companies that the current status quo of abuse of Rangers players online must come to an end.
"I think we want to keep it in the media first and foremost,” Gerrard told today’s press conference. “We want people to talk about it and we are hoping it gets into the right people's thinking in-terms of people above football - i.e. the government up here in Scotland and down in England as well and something big can come from it.
"We know we are not going to be the club and individuals that make that difference, but I think if people stick together and collectively, if people can keep it on the agenda for as long as possible, hopefully there will be change happens sooner rather than later.
"It has been spoken about for long enough now, and it doesn't seem like Instagram or Twitter or the social media outlets are taking any notice and they are not listening.
"I think the only way they will take notice is if it goes above them, and the only people to do that are probably the government.
"Hopefully if football keeps doing its thing in terms of speaking about it and keeping it in all the media, on the radio and on the TV, hopefully something will be done because enough is enough - too many people are getting abused on a daily basis and it is not acceptable.
"It makes you frustrated and it makes you angry that these social media platforms are ignoring it - as that is what they are doing at the end of the day, they are ignoring it and they are letting it go on.
"We felt it was the right thing to do as management. We listen to our senior players, and collectively, we made a decision which our club have backed, and that makes you really proud that you have the club's backing on something like this.
"Hopefully, other clubs and individuals keep doing their own thing to keep it in the media spotlight as well."
Rangers move on to face Hibs on Sunday in the Scottish Premiership, with the manager continuing: "We have had tough challenges from most teams home and away. Hibs have done fantastically well - they are in third place and I am sure they are pretty satisfied in-terms of their league campaign and it looks like they are going to finish in the European places.
"They have dangerous players, they have a good coach who sets them up really well, they are a team who come and try to play and to hurt you, and they have got good patterns about their play.
"It goes without saying you are going to have to be at your best to get the right result against Hibs and we have had previous, tough challenges against this team and we have to be ready and at our best again at the weekend.
"This is not a team you can take lightly or be complacent against as they will make you pay."
He also gave an injury update on Ryan Jack, and firstly, captain James Tavernier, adding: "I would say he has an outside chance of being involved against Celtic. He is still outside in a one v one capacity with a physio, but he is progressing pretty well.
"I would say he has a small chance at the moment, so that is an outside chance.
"In-terms of Ryan, we are waiting on some news today, so we have been back and forth with a couple of specialists over the last couple of days - he has still being doing his thing with the physios and the medical team here, so we are hoping for some positive news today.
"The next time I speak to you guys, I should have a better update in-terms of Ryan."
Rangers season ticket holders will be able to watch all the action from the first post-split fixture on RangersTV with their Virtual Season Ticket.
If you aren’t a season ticket holder, you can purchase the broadcast on Pay-Per-View for £9.99 if you are inside the UK, and internationally with a RangersTV Unlimited subscription or via Pay-Per-View.
Joining Emma Dodds in the studio at Ibrox will be former player Alan Hutton.
Clive Tyldesley will be on commentary duty with current joint B team coach Kevin Thomson joining him on co-commentary.
You can have the official matchday programme delivered direct to your door by clicking here or you can download now to your mobile device.
Inside this weekend’s issue you can read Steven Gerrard and James Tavernier’s manager and captain’s columns, and there are exclusive interviews with in-form striker Kemar Roofe and Ibrox legends Barry Ferguson and Jorg Albertz.
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