Credit: Imago

Dan Godfrey

Sun 23 March 2025 11:09, UK

Rangers supporters are keenly awaiting any exciting update to come out of Ibrox regarding their American-based takeover.

Paraag Marathe and Andrew Cavenagh lead the bid to buy out numerous existing shareholders in Govan, the sheer amount of which is slowing down the process but is necessary to ensuring all parties get what they need.

Gers fans have grown tired of their lack of domestic momentum compared to Celtic and demand to challenge once more to be Scotland’s top dogs, and remain a sustained force in Europe; the prospective takeover is anticipated to be a huge stride towards doing so.

Chris Jack reveals latest Rangers takeover timeline

While Rangers fans attempt to focus on the rest of the season, the developments which emerge every few days from the Ibrox boardroom including that of possible new investors are hard to ignore.

Realistically, the Old Firm is the only real league fixture with any major degree of importance attached to it other than pride this season, with the upcoming Europa League quarter-finals the primary focus.

Barry Ferguson will certainly be ensuring his squad and backroom staff remain tunnel-visioned towards matters on the pitch, though Chris Jack has outlined a timeline via Rangers Review (23 March).

Jack explained that the “final one per cent” can often be the biggest hurdle to overcome, and that the number of shareholders set to sell up means a multiplied mountain of paperwork, lawyer activity and discussions.

He does however expect “new faces in the directors’ box” at Ibrox next season, as a new era begins at long last.

The key points Jack highlighted were: “It is unlikely that every bit of paperwork will be signed and sealed before the end of the current campaign.

“Sources close to the talks have given no indication of any bumps in the road, however. Broad agreements have been reached and there will be many drafts of the documents going through the hands of the lawyers before pen is to put paper.

“It will take as long as it will take and the final one per cent can often be the most difficult one to secure. As it stands, there will be new faces in the directors’ box for next term. Change is coming at Ibrox.”

Ibrox awaits managerial candidates and transfer budget

Rangers fans will be curious presuming the takeover goes to plan over how their managerial outlook will go.

Many new regimes arrive and tear up the floorboards, installing their own staff in place agreed long before completion of any takeover deal which could well be the case with Marathe and Cavenagh at Rangers.

This is why Ferguson has been coy over his future – he doesn’t want to make any false promises, not jinx anything for himself. It’s clear he would want to be the long-term Rangers manager if asked.

Plenty of factors do however come into play, including the size of the transfer kitty, which could in turn affect the calibre of interested managers.

If Marathe and Cavenagh are willing to go immediately high-stakes – within the financial constraints in place – then managers, and consequently players, would be more inclined given the permanent status of Rangers as a huge footballing entity.

At the moment, everything is as under-wraps as it could be in this day and age. Developments simmer in the background while a baying group of supporters dream of their next major titles.