AliousLeeds United chairman Paraag Marathe and his investment group may soon take the reins at Ibrox Club. With the international break dominating the football scene, Scotland, led by Steve Clarke, is gearing up for the second leg of their UEFA Nations League play-off against Greece this Sunday.
Meanwhile, Rangers fans are still buzzing from their thrilling 3-2 victory over Celtic in the Old Firm derby last weekend. However, focus will soon shift to their upcoming Scottish Premiership match against Dundee at Dens Park on March 29. Barry Ferguson’s squad will face a Dundee side riding high after their own derby triumph over Dundee United before the break.
Off the pitch, updates on the Rangers takeover have been scarce, but there’s no cause for alarm as the club and prospective buyers work toward finalizing a deal before the next season.
According to Football Insider, the incoming owners, reportedly 49ers Enterprises, are prepared to provide Rangers with a hefty transfer budget of £25 million to £30 million to bolster the squad, regardless of who’s in the managerial hot seat.
A preliminary agreement for the takeover was apparently reached earlier this month, and momentum is building toward next season’s preparations. While appointing a new manager remains the top priority, some reports suggest Barry Ferguson’s recent successes in the Old Firm derby and the UEFA Europa League could position him as a serious candidate for the permanent role.
Elsewhere, a debate has sparked among PLZ Soccer pundits Gordon Parks, Hugh MacDonald, Alison McConnell, and Peter Martin regarding potential concerns for the new Rangers owners. The discussion zeroed in on a controversial banner displayed by the Union Bears fan group and whether such incidents might discourage investment.
Parks questioned if the “baggage” tied to the club could scare off investors, a sentiment McConnell agreed with unequivocally. Parks further pondered whether anyone would want to align themselves with certain problematic factions within the fanbase.
Martin, the host, countered with a pragmatic view, suggesting savvy businesspeople would see past such issues, focusing instead on the bottom line and handling any troublemakers later if needed.
MacDonald chimed in, arguing that the 49ers group, accustomed to dealing with major players globally, views Rangers as a valuable brand and likely won’t be swayed by these controversies—though he hinted their stance might also reflect a desire to distance themselves from such behavior entirely.
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