Pranav Shahaney
Wed 26 March 2025 13:10, UK
Les Allan has been an influential figure in getting the Rangers takeover to the advanced stage that it is now.
He helped Andrew Cavenagh get in touch with the Gers hierarchy and join forces with the San Francisco 49ers.
Allan admits that Cavenagh started the process a year ago of looking for a new football club, before making the decision on Rangers.
Paraag Marathe is playing a key role in the Rangers takeover. (Credit: Imago/ Breaking Media)
Ibrox faithful should be excited with the San Francisco 49ers’ involvement
Cavenagh, alongside his pivotal collaborator Allan, brings a transformative vision to Rangers, bolstered by his alliance with the 49ers.
Having spent a year meticulously searching for a football club that aligns with his ambitions, his decision to invest in the Ibrox outfit reflects a calculated move to elevate the club’s standing.
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Allan told the Warm-Up at 1:36: “A year ago we [Cavenagh and Allan] started that process and he’s done a lot of work in looking for something which would meet his requirements, his ambitions. In the last few months, he teamed up with the 49ers and that changes the game a little bit.
Shareholder Stake
Dave King 12.96%
Douglas Park 11.54%
George Taylor 10.22%
Stuart Gibson 9.53%
Julian Wolhardt 9.53%
John Halsted 9.53%
John Bennett 7.11%
Shareholders who have agreed to sell all or part of their stake in Rangers.
“When you start working with an organisation quite as established and at the very top table of the top sports in the world with the top commercial relationships.
“So when a connection of mine, from the last few decades, said: ‘Do you think you’ve got an idea about who might be interested in Rangers then it didn’t take longer than 24 hours of a thinking process to say: ‘I think I do’.
“The commercial relationships that they bring as an organisation. I think the press reported that they’re looking to raise a 10 per cent (£697million) stake at something like a $9billion valuation. When you get into that size, can Rangers expect to see, can Scottish football expect to see an uplift in the overall commercial profile of Rangers, of Scottish football? Yeah. That’s certainly what you’d hope for.”
Rangers could be in for a transformative few years under their new owners
The 49ers, an organisation synonymous with elite sports management and boasting a valuation nearing $9billion (£6.97billion), introduces a level of commercial sophistication and global networking previously unseen at Ibrox.
This isn’t just about financial injection, as Cavenagh and the 49ers offer access to top-tier commercial relationships that could amplify Gers’ revenue streams through sponsorships, merchandise and international exposure.
His involvement promises a professional overhaul, potentially modernising operations from player scouting to fan engagement, drawing on the 49ers’ proven expertise in running a high-value sporting franchise.
For Gers, this could mean competing more robustly in Europe and strengthening their domestic dominance, as enhanced resources attract better talent and infrastructure upgrades.
Cavenagh’s ambition, paired with the 49ers’ acumen, positions Gers to not only grow as a club but also to raise the commercial bar for Scottish football.
This could spark a virtuous cycle, drawing further investment into the league and enhancing its global profile.
For the Ibrox faithful, Cavenagh represents a bridge to a future where the Glasgow outfit aren’t just participants but pacesetters in the footballing world.
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