Rangers takeover: Ibrox sources reveal ‘hurdles’ as John Halsted twist emerges
Rangers are facing hurdles in finalising the 49ers Enterprises’ proposed takeover at Ibrox with a new John Halsted twist coming to light.
There is a buzz around Ibrox after it emerged on Wednesday (19 February) night that 49ers Enterprises, the investment arm of San Francisco 49ers, are in talks over buying Rangers.
The discussions, which started before the turn of the year, are said to be at an advanced stage, with investors, including Leeds United chairman Paraag Marathe, aiming to acquire a majority control at the Scottish Premiership club.
However, one of the major complications in finalising a deal is the fact that the Light Blues’ shares are split in fragments between several shareholders, including Halsted.
| Rangers Shareholders | Share (Round) |
| Dave King | 13% |
| Douglas Park | 12% |
| George Taylor | 10% |
| Stuart Gibson | 9.5% |
| John Bennett | 7% |
| Julian Wolhardt | 6.7% |
| John Halsted | 6% |
John Halsted prominent in bringing investors
John Halsted has been a ‘prominent’ figure in bringing new investors to the table, according to the Scottish Sun.
The newspaper reported via their website on 19 February that the owner of six per cent of Rangers shares held by Perron Investments could lead to the 49ers agreeing to a multi-million-pound deal in Glasgow.
However, Ibrox sources have maintained that there are still plenty of hurdles to be surpassed before a takeover is agreed.
There is hope of a deal being struck in the near future, though, with Marathe and Co viewing Scottish football as a ‘prime environment’ for developing young players and establishing a successful player-trading model.
Paraag Marathe faces Rangers ownership limitation
It is worth noting that Marathe was the driving force behind the 49ers’ takeover of Leeds in 2023 and has since been the architect of their push for Premier League promotion.
While investors are optimistic about his ability to have a similar impact on the Gers, the Scottish FA’s regulations could restrict the 49ers from owning over 29.9 per cent of shares at Ibrox.
However, there are other investors ready to inject money into the Premiership giants as part of a ‘wider consortium’, meaning Marathe could surpass the Scottish football limitation.
Meanwhile, Rangers fans will be hopeful that the takeover goes through before the end of the season so that they have money to spend on new signings in the summer.