Rangers ‘takeover agreement now close’ as big 49ers plans outlined live on air
Rangers and the 49ers Enterprises group are edging closer to completing takeover talks ahead of a groundbreaking buyout at Ibrox.
News broke on 19 February that the American investment fund – who also own the San Francisco 49ers and Leeds United – have been involved in months’ worth of talks with the Ibrox hierarchy over a takeover.
The 49ers’ operation is spearheaded by current Leeds chairman Paraag Marathe, and despite the prospect of Rangers entering a multi-club model, optimism is high that a revolution is coming in Govan.
Takeover talks have progressed across the past few months and are set to continue towards the end of the current season, with the latest update providing a timeframe over when they could be completed.
49ers Enterprises ‘close’ to Rangers takeover agreement
Speaking on talkSPORT (21 February, 12:05pm), journalist Ben Jacobs provided a new update on the progress of talks between the 49ers and Rangers, as a takeover agreement creeps ever closer.
Jacobs said: “Talks between Rangers and a consortium including 49ers Enterprises are termed ‘advanced’, and there is something close to an agreement in principle for at least a majority takeover.
“There are other investors involved, so we don’t know the specific stake of 49ers Enterprises, but the expectation is a deal here is going to get done by April at the earliest and the summer at the latest.
“There are big plans for Rangers. The appeal in the club is of course the easy route into some form of European football – hopefully the Champions League – and maybe to further redevelop Ibrox as well.
“In excess of £50million is likely to be what it costs – that is then inheriting the debt on top, so it’s a relatively large outlay. [The] club is valued well over £100m, so 50 per cent is going to be over £50m.”
| Rangers Shareholder | Shareholding (rounded upwards) |
| Dave King | 13% |
| Douglas Park | 12% |
| George Taylor | 10% |
| Stuart Gibson | 9.5% |
| John Bennett | 7% |
| Julian Wolhardt | 6.7% |
| John Halsted | 6% |
Rangers on the brink of brand new era at Ibrox
Jacobs’ update implies that after a seemingly endless cycle of potential takeover talks at Ibrox turning out to be nothing but bluster, the 49ers are already laying the path towards a new era at Rangers.
An old-fashioned board well past its sell-by date, and one which has become increasingly unpopular with the Rangers fanbase, could soon be shown the door, with the Americans set to take majority control.
Other investors being involved in the 49ers’ bid suggests that well over 50 per cent of the club could be bought, and that would surely result in a number of high-profile Ibrox shareholders heading for the exit.
Buying over 50 per cent of the club’s shares – something which by contrast took them almost five years to do in West Yorkshire – will immediately give 49ers Enterprises the loudest voices in the boardroom.
As a result, £50m or more being pumped into the club – and then a further cash injection thereafter – will surely see improvements on and off the pitch, and after last summer’s Copland Road Stand fiasco, fans will certainly welcome a complete refresh at Ibrox when it comes to brand-new redevelopments.