New Ownership Could Help Rangers Topple Celtic in Scotland | OneFootball

Rangers supporters could only watch in anguish as Celtic clinched the 2024 /25 Scottish Premiership title without breaking sweat.

The gap between the two clubs is widening with each passing season, leading to fears that Rangers may never overhaul their bitter rivals.

However, with new owners set to take charge at Ibrox, the balance of power in Scottish football could be set for a shake-up.

On the Threshold of a New Era

Fans will be delighted to hear that that Paraag Marathe of 49ers Enterprises and Andrew Cavenagh of ParetoHealth are on track to acquire a controlling stake in the club.

Once the takeover finalised, the American-led consortium is expected to invest significantly into appointing a new manager and rebuilding Rangers’ massively underwhelming squad.

The takeover would bring stability and direction, which Rangers desperately need. It could redefine their fortunes domestically and make them more competitive in Europe.

Knocking Celtic off the top of the tree will be the first priority. They have been playing catch-up to their rivals for over a decade, and new ownership might be the catalyst for change.

Marathe and Cavenagh are looking to acquire over half of the club’s shares, which would give them significant control of the Ibrox boardroom.

Prominent shareholder Dave King is ready to part ways with his stake, while Douglas Park, George Taylor, Stuart Gibson and John Bennett are willing to sell their shares.

Red Bull Could Play a Key Role at Rangers

With the 49ers edging closer to a Rangers takeover, it is unsurprising that talk of Red Bull entering the fray have surfaced, considering both entities run Leeds United.

Red Bull are minority owners at Leeds but are also the club’s front-of-shirt sponsor, so rumours about Rangers being part of a multi-club model have surfaced.

Marathe has shut down those rumours, claiming Rangers would not be part of a system as a feeder club. However, they could feasibly sit at the top of the chain in a set-up which doesn’t involve Leeds.

They could benefit from a collaboration that has helped other multi-club models thrive, especially in scouting, commercial expansion and player development pathways.

Auckland FC could be an ideal start point for a global football network. The New Zealand club offers a lower-pressure environment for players and staff to develop, giving Rangers a way into Oceania.

This model could impact the New Zealand betting industry. Carrying the label of a sister club to Rangers would improve Auckland’s popularity on soccer betting sites in New Zealand.

With a loan pathway from Rangers in place, Auckland would be a good bet to become the dominant force in the A-League.

The partnership would also benefit Rangers by giving them access to the top players in the southern hemisphere and a place where their emerging talents could gain more experience.

New Owners can Turn Rangers Fortunes Around

The first step towards redemption for Rangers is to revamp the squad, which the incoming owners have already pledged to sort out.

Rangers’ recruitment over the past few years has been absolutely dreadful. There needs to be a methodical yet ambitious rebuild this summer.

King has already advised the new owners on the wat forward. He has recommended using just half of the initial investment to appoint the right manager and rebuild the squad.

The leading candidates for the Rangers job are Steven Gerrard and Davide Ancelotti.

Links to former manager Gerrard are understandable. He is the only one who has managed to break Celtic’s grip on the Premiership in recent years, but his CV post-Rangers is diabolical.

Having subsequently failed in the Premier League and Saudi Pro League, Rangers have been warned against extending an olive branch to the former Liverpool midfielder.

But there are also reservations about Ancelotti’s inexperience. If he gets the job, it will be his first as the main man away from his father’s shadows.

The managerial decision will be the consortium’s first real test. Get it wrong, and the entire project could be undermined before it starts.

On the flip side, it could kick start Rangers’ return to supremacy. Given the resources at the new owners’ disposal, it would be surprising if they failed to trigger a turnaround in Rangers’ fortunes.