TRYING to find consensus amongst a large group of football fans is almost an impossible task and the Ibrox crowd is certainly amongst the most difficult to please.

The line about Rangers supporters on a desert island – that if there were three of them there would be four Supporter’s Clubs – is tongue in cheek, but sums up how thankless an undertaking it is to keep such an opinionated and demanding group happy.

There could, then, have been a feeling of job well done within the club last week when plans for the new-look Edmiston House were submitted to Glasgow City Council and made public.

Few issues seem to unite the Gers support almost overwhelmingly, but you would struggle to find any that would think the area surrounding Ibrox isn’t in need of a drastic overhaul.

There have been more pressing concerns for those around the boardroom table over the years but as the club’s 150th anniversary gets ever closer, there is no margin for error when it comes to the Ibrox blueprint.

Images of what the revamped Edmiston House will look like were first revealed several months ago and the project has been billed as ‘one of the most exciting projects in European football’ by James Bisgrove, Rangers’ Commercial and Marketing Director.

The number of partners and the revenue from them has more than doubled in the last 12 months, while areas like RangersTV and club branding have been given investment and an overhaul. Alongside the Castore partnership, this project is the most significant undertaking in quite some time at Ibrox and the results, like those other deals, will speak for themselves.

Demolition work will start in Autumn and the new venue will incorporate the Rangers Store, a museum, a café and conference and event space.

“Our commitment to provide our fans with the best facilities in the country remains undiminished," Managing Director, Stewart Robertson, said as the plans were revealed. "As well as being an animated facility on match-days, it’s our ambition this building will be a hub of activity all year round.”

The supporter experience outside of the 90 minutes has not been taken as seriously as it should have been in Scottish football for too long. If clubs are to capitalise on their most loyal customers, they must serve up more than a pie and Bovril at half-time.

At The Etihad, for example, fans can gather hours before kick-off and eat and drink while entertainment is played on large screens or on a stage in the middle of City Square.

The longer that supporters are in and around the stadium, the more of an occasion each game is and, crucially, the more they will spend.

If Rangers are to achieve their aims of a seven-figure profit from Edmiston House, they need as much footfall through the shops and eateries as possible, while income from the events space – capable of a crowd of 1,300 – will be crucial to the success of the project.

A building that became infamous for being used as leverage and security on loans during Rangers’ troubles can finally be put to good use. It has to be done right.

The creation of a museum was widely welcomed by supporters and it is something that really should have been built decades ago given the history of the club and the treasure trove of artifacts, medals and silverware that is housed at Ibrox.

This project should be the lasting legacy of the current incumbents but the pressure is on to ensure the building delivers for the club and city.

The redevelopment of the site comes as work continues around Ibrox. Some of it – such as new digital advertising boards and the in-stadium Wi-Fi system – will be clear to fans, while others are behind the scenes.

A new lounge area for Steven Gerrard’s squad was completed last year and the spruced up home changing room was used for the first time against Kilmarnock.

The grandeur of Ibrox had unfortunately been diminished under the previous regime as maintenance schedules and spends were scaled back and the stadium was in need of more than just a bit of TLC when Dave King, Paul Murray and John Gilligan took control in 2015.

As the legacy issues have been addressed and items have been ticked off the list, Ibrox has steadily benefitted from more regular upkeep and a programme of renovations.

It was a dereliction of duty from prior boards not to keep Ibrox in the state that it deserved and that the Rangers support expected. When those fans are finally able to return in the coming weeks and months, it will feel like being home once again.

There is still plenty of work to be done in and around Ibrox and the development of the Complex across the road will now be overseen by the Rangers Charity Foundation.

Relations between the club and the Council became increasingly strained during the public fall-out over the decision not to allow Rangers to use the site as a fan zone.

Any fears over a similar situation were allayed by Robertson last week as he thanked GCC for their ‘advice and support’ and spoke of ‘positive engagement’.

With all the parties on board, Rangers can now press ahead with the building work and transform a derelict and dilapidated area into a venue befitting Ibrox and the club.

There will be few grumbles from a discerning support at present but all that will change, of course, if there is not success on the park sooner rather than later.

When it comes to the to-do list, that must always remain the top priority, but it will always be the most difficult objective to achieve.