49ers Enterprises continue to close in on the takeover of Rangers as the Ibrox side brace for a summer of substantial change.
The US sports consortium have reached an agreement to purchase 51% of Rangers alongside American healthcare mogul Andrew Cavenagh, with a deal expected to be completed by the end of May.
When the Americans come on board, a new sporting director will be appointed at Ibrox with a new Rangers manager set to follow suit.
The deal will also proceed a summer of sweeping change, with some expecting the largest Rangers exodus in living memory when the Americans get their feet under the desk.
But before 49ers Enterprises get the chance to have an impact at Rangers, the Ibrox side have been sent a reminder about their efficiency as Leeds United earn promotion.
49ers Enterprises backed Leeds United earn Premier League promotion
Leeds United are the first football club in 49ers Enterprises sporting stable, joining NFL giants San Francisco 49ers.
After taking over at the club almost two years ago, the American backers have now guided Leeds United back to the Premier League this season.
Daniel Farke’s side have earned promotion to the English top tier after they thumped Stoke City 6-0 and Burnley, who were also promoted, defeated Sheffield United 2-1.
The result means neither side can be caught in the English Championship’s final two games of the season with both clubs in a head-to-head battle to finish the division’s champions.
| Position | Team | Played MP | Won W | Drawn D | Lost L | For GF | Against GA | Diff GD | Points Pts |
| 1 |  LeedsLeeds | 44 | 27 | 13 | 4 | 89 | 29 | 60 | 94 |
| 2 |  BurnleyBurnley | 44 | 26 | 16 | 2 | 61 | 15 | 46 | 94 |
| 3 |  Sheff UtdSheffield Utd | 44 | 27 | 7 | 10 | 60 | 35 | 25 | 86 |
| 4 |  SunderlandSunderland | 44 | 21 | 13 | 10 | 58 | 41 | 17 | 76 |
| 5 |  Bristol CityBristol City | 44 | 17 | 16 | 11 | 57 | 49 | 8 | 67 |
| 6 |  CoventryCoventry | 44 | 19 | 9 | 16 | 62 | 57 | 5 | 66 |
Leeds currently lead the Clarets on goal difference and will be crowned champions if they can match or better Burnley’s results in the final two games of the season.
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Bristol CityBristol City
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As an aside, former Rangers winger DaMarcus Beasley hinted at Leeds investment earlier in the year and will be delighted to see the side reach the Premier League.
49ers Enterprises’ good Rangers omen after £108m Leeds United ‘trade-off’
Taking over at Elland Road in 2023, 49ers Enterprises have gone through two seasons of cost cutting as they look to rebalance the scales of Andrea Radrizzani‘s costly Leeds reign.
After narrowly missing out on promotion last season, Leeds CEO Paraag Marathe was clear that the club would need to downsize ahead of this campaign.
Despite Leeds making a £108m player trading ‘trade-off’ in the summer, selling some of their biggest assets in the process, the club will play in the Premier League next season.
Rangers find themselves in a similar situation having misspent the earnings the club made on the sales of Nathan Patterson, Joe Aribo and Calvin Bassey, or in their impact on the European stage.
Rangers doled out expensive contracts to injury prone players who have failed to deliver with the Gers scything through the wage bill and starting again last summer.
Similar ruthless cost-cutting will be needed if the club is to compete with Celtic long-term and the Americans have a big job on their hands to steer the good ship Rangers around.
But the promotion of Leeds United is certainly a good omen and with 49ers Enterprises now having a proven track record of turning things around at an underperforming football club.
