Owen Coyle shares what he’s been told about 49ers chief amid Rangers takeover news
Rangers’ takeover by the 49ers Enterprises group is edging closer to completion.
The Enterprise arm of the San Francisco 49ers NFL franchise looks set to take a controlling stake in the Ibrox outfit in the summer.
The consortium that is led by Paraag Marathe and Andrew Cavenagh took a step closer to sealing the deal when it was announced last week that “productive conversations” had been held.
No timeline was announced for the deal to be concluded but it expected to be confirmed between April and June, if all goes well.
Coyle shares Steinsson insight ahead of Rangers takeover
A key man in the 49ers organisation is Gretar Steinsson, who seems set to lead the search for a new manager in the summer.
Coyle managed the Icelandic international at Bolton, where he made 131 appearances before retiring at the age of 31.
The ex-Ross County and Queen’s Park manager shared an insight into the former Everton and Tottenham backroom figure amid his expected involvement with the Gers deal.
In an interview with the Scottish Sun (1 May, page 48), he said: “I know from speaking to people in England about him how meticulous and thorough he is with his job.
“I’m delighted for him and when the takeover at Rangers goes through, Gretar will have a role to play going forward.
“Knowing the kind of person he is, it wouldn’t surprise me if he’s already put wheels in motion behind the scenes.”
Steinsson faces huge task at Rangers
There is a lot of pressure for Steinsson to get the appointment right considering the stakes for the Gers if he fails to do so.
The Light Blues are miles away from Celtic in the Scottish Premiership, with 17 points separating the Glasgow rivals after a dismal domestic campaign.
| Scottish Premiership | Played | GD | Points |
| C. Celtic | 34 | +80 | 84 |
| 2. Rangers | 34 | +33 | 67 |
If they are to bridge that gap anytime soon, they need to appoint the right man, who will be able to take the Bears forward on and off the pitch.
Interim manager Ferguson has had a mixed spell in the dugout since replacing Philippe Clement and needs a strong last few weeks to throw his name in the hat for the permanent position.
Meanwhile, the likes of Steven Gerrard and Jose Mourinho have also been linked to the vacancy but there are question marks over both candidates given their recent history.
It is an unenviable task for the former Iceland international and it could define how successful the 49ers era starts in Auchenhowie.