What a Rangers 49ers takeover truly looks like as plan in place – 5 immersive moves that are coming to Ibrox

What a Rangers 49ers takeover truly looks like as plan in place – 5 immersive moves that are coming to Ibrox

No deal has been done yet, but the excitement surrounding the news of a potential Rangers takeover is understandable.

 

Record Sport broke the story that 49ers Enterprises are in advanced talks to buy the Ibrox club. And with fans having long been demanding change at the very top of the marble staircase, the prospect of it actually happening has caught fire amongst the Light Blues faithful. One league title in the near 13 years since they were demoted to the bottom tier amid a financial crisis, numerous managers and more cash being thrown down the drain while Celtic dominate on and off the park has proved hard to bear.

 

But what would the new broom actually sweep in at Ibrox? While comparisons to the San Francisco 49ers, the group’s flagship sporting investment make little sense due to operating in a completely different world, looking to Leeds United is more than relevant. The 49er owned Elland Road club are top of the Championship and could be back in the English top flight next season. But it’s about far more than simply getting Rangers playing well again.

 

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It’s one of Scottish football’s most iconic stadiums with the red brick facade and famous staircase, but the Edmiston Drive ground is showing its age. Running repairs are required and the farcical situation at the start of the season that forced Rangers to decamp to Hampden due to building works delays on the Copland Road stand did Philippe Clement, his players and the fans no favours.

One commitment 49ers have made at Leeds is to expand Elland Road. The plan is to boost capacity to 53,000 and bring it up to scratch to that the stadium meets UEFA category 4 status – the same as Ibrox – to the tune of £10million While an expansion of the Govan ground is unlikely and probably unnecessary, a facelift at the very least is overdue, and longer term, works to try and bring it up to five star level in UEFA’s eyes should be an aspiration.

A lack of communication from the top has been one of the many criticism levelled at the Rangers board. Rangers TV updates are all well and good, but aside from the annual AGM grilling, many feel there is little opportunity to get their points across or for the board to clue them up on what is going on and what is planned for the future.

The establishment of the Fan Advisory Board was a step in the right direction and minutes from a recent meeting with new CEO Patrick Stewart were released last week, although added little to what the boss man has already said publicly. Leeds have their own Supports Advisory Board, which met with club chairman Paraag Marathe back in October, with the 49ers man with the plan at Elland Road taking questions from fans. Similar, more regular sessions with the Rangers equivalent would be welcomed. He also appeared in the Official Leeds United podcast after taking control of the Yorkshire club – incidentally hosted by actor of Harry Potter fame and lifelong Leeds fan Matthew Lewis.

 

New manager?

Shortly after taking control of Leeds, Daniel Farke was installed as the club’s new boss. That followed a season that saw Jesse March sacked in February and replaced with Javi Gracia, who lasted just 12 games before the previous owners rolled back the clock in a desperate attempt to stay up by bringing in Sam Allardyce. It failed, and Leeds went down.

 

Rangers boss Philippe Clement

Rangers boss Philippe Clement

Farke was swiftly appointed with the German having previously taken Norwich City up from the Championship – twice, as champions while breaking the points total record. So the Elland Road brief is simple and specific. It will likely be similar at Rangers: Win the league and qualify for the Champions League group stage. Identifying someone who has relevant experience is harder to find in Scottish context, but 49ers have shown they’ll make changes and target individuals they feel can get the job done. If Philippe Clement’s record is anything to go by, it won’t necessarily be him…

 

Better player trading returns

Rangers’ ability to secure even decent transfer fees for their star men has been derided over recent windows, especially when there are record breaking sales happening across the city. Alfredo Morelos and Ryan Kent both left on frees the summer before last, despite high interest in both and the peak of their Rangers powers in previous windows. Last summer’s window saw Todd Cantwell, Sam Lammers, Scott Wright, Connor Goldson and Robby McCrorie all leave for a combined totla of just £800,000.

 

Blackburn Rovers’ Todd Cantwell

Blackburn Rovers’ Todd Cantwell -Credit:CameraSport via Getty Images

In contrast, Leeds made the most of any club in EUROPE ahead of this season. The likes or Archie Gray, Georginio Rutter, Crysencio Summerville, Luis Sinisterra, Glen Kamara, and other were all sold for a total of around £130m. Of course Rangers won’t get anything like that due to not being based in England and not primarily selling to the Premier League. But it does hint that the 49ers know when to sell in order to generate income.

 

Academy focus

The lack of academy graduates getting a genuine first team chance at Ibrox (and at Celtic Park) has been a longer term criticism. Philippe Clement looked to be starting to give the kids a shot (admittedly out of necessity) this season, with the likes of Findlay Curtis and Bailey Rice eventually getting minutes, albeit limited.

 

49ers have invested in the Leeds academy at their Thorp Arch training base and it’s paying off. Club legacy prospect Archie gray may have been lured away by Tottenham, but younger brother Harry could be the next one to step up after impressing for the club’s Under 21s. Defender James Debayo has made the step up to the first team squad this season, while Sam Byram is back at the club after making his breakthrough at Elland Road in 2012. It shows that the group are not all about recruiting from elsewhere and the academy can be a source of players and future income, rather than being used to fill the squad when numbers are low.