Rangers boss Steven Gerrard dedicates title No 55 to the fans as trophy day dawns

STEVEN GERRARD has told the absent Rangers fans: This title is for YOU.

James Tavernier will pick up the Premiership trophy inside an empty Ibrox after the game against Aberdeen.

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Rangers boss Steven GerrardCredit: PA

If the champions avoid defeat against the Dons, they’ll smash the 100-point barrier and become top-flight Invincibles.

And Gerrard – named SPFL Manager of the Year – wants to dedicate a first title in a decade to Gers supporters who were forced to watch from home.

He said: “The players have seen it with their own eyes, the support that the fans have given them. We all knew it was going to be a unique year – but the players read the news and know what goes on.

“They know that we sold an incredible amount of season tickets. They know that the fans have to pay to watch certain games.

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Rangers’ James Tavernier and Steven Davis celebrate going in front against LivingstonCredit: PA

“They have to buy certain memberships. They know how many shirt sales there have been.

“There has been a real understanding from the players and we’ve made it abundantly clear what the fans had to do to support us from afar this year.

“The players are family men, a lot of them, so they understand what the fans have gone through.

“And they want to share this even though they can’t be in the stadium with the supporters.

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Another day without defeat for Gerrard’s men will cap off an Invincible league seasonCredit: The Sun

“They want to raise that cup for them because they are the most important people here.”

Gerrard has repeated the club’s plea for fans to observe lockdown restrictions as they celebrate today’s title parties.

Supporters have already snapped up more than 30,000 season tickets for next season — and Gerrard can’t wait to join them in celebrating the team’s achievement.

He added: “It’s been a fantastic season, certainly from a league point of view, and we’re really excited for tomorrow.

“I’m excited for the players and for the supporters, more than myself.

LIGHT SHOW Rangers fans gather in their hundreds to set off flares on either bank of the Clyde ahead of Premiership title party

“But it is a really satisfying place to be in as a manager, knowing what the players have delivered so far this season.

“There is one more game to go and I’d like us to finish really strongly and hopefully we can break that 100 points and remain unbeaten.

“That’s from the game’s point of view but we’re really excited for the day, there’s no getting away from that.”

Along with Gerrard being as the Premiership’s Manager of the Year, keeper Allan McGregor has been named as SPFL Player of the Year.

The Ibrox stalwart picked up the gong ahead of skipper Tav, ever-present Connor Goldson and veteran Steven Davis.

And Gers boss Gerrard said: “We had some real consistent performers but I can’t argue against Greegsy.

“He has put in world-class performances.

“Some of the saves I have seen him make this season I haven’t seen before. I am really pleased for him. From my point of view, it has been a brilliant week personally.”

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Hundreds of Rangers fans light flares on either side of the Clyde ahead of Premiership trophy day