Rangers finances have been well reported as not being in rude health, a string of losses being covered by the directors to keep the lights on and manager’s backed.
The plan of self-sufficiency still seems a distant dream despite Patrick Stewart’s review of the club from top to bottom.
Philippe Clement is to remain as Rangers manager, for now, but news has emerged of a potential takeover by no less than NFL outfit the San Francisco 49ers, in a way.
Rangers takeover talks at ‘advanced stages’ with NFL outfit
According to The Daily Record, talks are at an ‘advanced stage’ with 49ers Enterprises key man Paraag Marathe – the current Leeds United chairman – said to be behind the deal.
Marathe was the man behind the takeover at Leeds and clearly isn’t the type of individual to mess around.
He is also still executive vice president of football operations in San Francisco.
Leading a consortium including an unnamed American business mogul, the next step will be considering how to approach the current board with Dave King still the biggest shareholder and Douglas Park not far behind.
What has Dave King said about the current state of Rangers?
Only last year, King vented his frustration at the current board and the decline in standards since winning the Scottish Premiership title:
“I don’t think we’re as bad as we were in 2015, but I think what we need is, let’s call it a two-year plan,” King said. “We’ll be on a three, four, five-year plan. And I’ll say two maximum.
“One, to get control again of the commercial and operational issues of the club and get the right people actually running the club. I don’t think anyone’s running the club.
“I can’t think of a single person, there are no directors there. There’s no one ever at Ibrox. There’s no executive team.
“Get control of the commercial contracts that we sign so that when we commit liability to the future, we know what they are and we know what they’re based on.
“Get all the operational procedures and processes so the club is working behind the scenes on things the supporters don’t see. And actually come up with a viable way forward, including a funding plan that allows the manager to start to rebuild that squad.”
King has tried to sell his shares before and Park is a far from popular figure amongst the Rangers support.
Both might now feel like it is the right time to cash in and get their money out of what has been a bottomless pit at times.
Marathe has a proven track record and, if he is interested in leading Rangers into the future, the petty squables of the past should be put to the side to listen to what he has to say.
If they really are Rangers fans, now could be the time for King and Park to let their shares and attachment to the club on a financial level go.
