If 2024 was the year in which Rangers were rudderless, 2025 could be the year that they finally lay the groundwork to be successful for a long period of time.
Kevin Thelwell knows what Rangers need to do to be consistently successful, his appointment as sporting director is a real step in the right direction.
The real game changer though is the imminent takeover by the San Francisco 49ers with Gretar Steinsson helping to pick a new Rangers manager.
A quick look across the border shows what the 49ers are capable of and how serious they are when it comes to running a football club.
Leeds United have been promoted to the Premier League and are going to be adding 20,000 seats to Elland Road, but could Rangers be about to play second fiddle?
- READ MORE: Rangers takeover takes seismic step as key players in 49ers Enterprises deal spotted at Ibrox
Rangers feeder club issue for Leeds United addressed
Speaking on the BBC’s Scottish Football Podcast, Rangers journalist Chris Jack was asked what the link will be between the two 49ers clubs:
“I think that, I think feeder club, that was something that didn’t… that attracted a lot of debate and a lot of speculation quite early on. And as you say, who’s going to be number one in that particular pecking order?
“No, Rangers won’t be a feeder club for Leeds, would Leeds be a feeder club for Rangers? Are they both going to be equal partners? I think ultimately both clubs will run by the same main influencers and by some of the same money, but both clubs have their own fan bases, own challenges to go and try and attack.
“So, I think that you will see best practice shared, I’m sure. There are other multi-club models obviously around the game where that goes even further than best practice, it goes to sharing coaches and staff and honestly players have been moved around on loan.
“We may well see that down the line, but I think it was made clear early on, this will not be a case of a feeder club situation.”
How could Rangers partnership with Leeds and the 49ers look?
Paraag Marathe has already confirmed that Rangers won’t be a feeder club for Leeds.
As Jack says, Rangers are – at least – on a par with their Premier League cousins, despite the obvious disparity in terms of finances available to them now that they have been promoted.
What Rangers have that Leeds don’t, is a top 25 UEFA coefficient ranking, gained through regularly doing well in Europe over the last seven years since Steven Gerrard walked through the doors at Ibrox.
There is one situation that might benefit both clubs specifically though, and that is a loophole to do with transfers.
It is easier to get a work permit in Scotland than it is in England.
It isn’t inconceivable that Rangers sign a player who has been scouted for Leeds, but who isn’t eligible to play for them – something Man City have done in the past.
This isn’t a bad thing either because, if a player has been identified as being good enough to play in the Premier League, why wouldn’t Rangers want them?
Also, players like Dujon Sterling and Calvin Bassey show that the fringes of Premier League clubs is a market that can provide talented players.
