Rangers fans are counting down to a US takeover led by 49ers Enterprises and healthcare mogul Andrew Cavenagh.
The Rangers takeover is expected to breathe new life into Ibrox after a decade and a half in the doldrums since the club’s financial collapse in 2012.
The US buyout of Rangers is expected to be completed by the end of April with some seriously big money coming into the club.
49ers Enterprises are one of the largest sports conglomerates in world football with Andrew Cavenagh also boasting a penny or two himself.
With the 49ers and Cavenagh overseeing business assets worth £11bn, these guys are serious money men who know how to turn a dollar.
Naturally this is cause for excitement amongst Rangers supporters but one former Ibrox striker has urged caution ahead of the takeover.
Photo by Ric Tapia/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Photo by Ric Tapia/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Ross McCormack has ‘realistic’ 49ers warning for Rangers fans
The 49ers’ cautious financial approach to Leeds United has caught the eye of ex-Rangers striker Ross McCormack.
Speaking with Rangers on the brink of a buyout, McCormack reckons the Ibrox support need to be ‘realistic’ with the expectations of the American owners.
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As explained to Rangers News, football finance expert Adam Williams predicts Rangers will spend to keep pace with Old Firm rivals Celtic.
But with the focus on sustainability and profitability, markers which Rangers just haven’t achieved in recent seasons, McCormack warns there will be no open chequebook.
“For me it’s going to be really interesting,” McCormack told Open Goal.
”Rangers fans need to maybe get a wee bit realistic thinking that these guys, the owners, are going to come in and splash the cash.
”I’ve seen them when they came in at Leeds. They didn’t do it with Leeds at the start and even to get promoted from the Championship there’s a guaranteed prize there of £250m at least and they’re not doing it.
”I don’t see why they would come up to Rangers and start splashing the cash.”
49ers Enterprises steady financial basket case Leeds United
49ers Enterprises already have a horse in the race in UK football with Leeds United bought over by the Americans in July 2023.
With the Elland Road side careering towards financial disaster under former owner Andrea Radrizzani, the first port of call for the 49ers has been to steady the ship.
After narrowly missing out on the Premier League last season, the Championship side faced a campaign of downsizing with over £190m in transfer payments still due in June 2024.
In the summer, the 49ers oversaw a substantial downsizing at Leeds which led to the sales of several key players and a £108m net positive in player trading this season.
Leeds United players out 24/25 Leeds United players in 24/25
Georginio Rutter – Brighton (£40m) Joe Rodon – Tottenham Hotspur (£10m)
Archie Gray – Spurs (£30m) Largie Ramazani – UD Almeria (£6.5m)
Crysencio Summerville – West Ham (£25m) Jayden Bogle – Sheffield United (£5m)
Luis Sinisterra – Bournemouth (£20m) Ao Tanaka – Dusseldorf (£3.4m)
Glen Kamara – Stade Rennais (£10m) Isaac Schmidt – FC St Gallen (£2.5m)
Marc Roca – Real Betis (£3.8m) Alex Cairns – Salford (free)
Charlie Cresswell – Toulouse (£3.8m) Manor Soloman – Leeds United (loan)
Diego Llorente – Real Betis (£2.8m) Joe Rothwell – Bournemouth (loan)
Robin Koch, Cody Drameh, Kristoffer Klaeson, Jamie Shackleton, Luke Ayling, Ian Poveda, Liam Cooper – left on free transfers Joshua Guilavogui – unattached (free)
Rasmus Kristensen, Sam Greenwood, Joe Gelhardt, Darko Gyabi, Sonny Perkins – left on loan
TOTAL RECEIVED – £135.4m TOTAL SPENT – £27.4m
DIFFERENTIAL: £108m
At the same time, Daniel Farke has kept Leeds competitive and the club are on course for Premier League promotion and a £250m jackpot.
There’s an acceptance amongst Rangers fans that what the club has spent in recent seasons, has not been spent wisely.
If the Americans can better use the resources at Rangers’ disposal to grow the club, you won’t find many grumbles from within Ibrox.