Scottish football is watching on intently as Rangers prepare to be taken over by a US consortium headed by 49ers Enterprises and Andrew Cavenagh.
The rough outline of a deal that will see US investment pour into Rangers has been agreed and is expected to be completed by the end of May.
There are a number of moving plates involved but 49ers Enterprises – a sports consortium who bought out Leeds United in 2023 and who are headed by NFL outfit San Francisco 49ers – and Andrew Cavenagh – a US healthcare mogul who is looking to move into football – are set to take control of the Rangers boardroom.
Whilst 49ers chief Jed York insists Rangers will be separate from the consortium’s NFL and Leeds United operations, a deal is edging ever closer.
It’s not the first example of US investment into the Scottish game and now one rival Scottish Premiership chairman has been giving his two cents on the situation.
St Johnstone owner welcomes US Rangers investment
St Johnstone owner Adam Webb has been discussing the proposed Rangers takeover with Sky Sports.
Webb reckons that whilst he’s not keen to see Rangers’ finances strengthened given the club are Scottish Premiership rivals, the situation is ‘promising’ for the wider Scottish game at large.
”I believe more dynamism, certainly more resources, more creativity in Scottish football is what we all want,” Webb explains.
”I believe it looks like a promising development for me.
“I’m confident and I am intrigued by that group and I hope that they will come and obviously strengthen Scottish football.
”I don’t really want Rangers to be strengthened obviously but if they will do some new and creative things, bring more eyeballs to Scotland, then it’s better for everybody.“
Whilst Adam Webb is welcoming 49ers Enterprises involvement in Rangers and by proxy Scottish football, the American has fired a warning to Gers fans.
Rangers might have big ambitions in the domestic and European game but no matter what happens, the 49ers are likely to put their own imprint on the club.
“Most owners wherever they may be when they come in as new owners they’re going to want to do new and different things,” Webb warns.
”They’re going to like to try new ideas and I believe Scottish football does need some new ideas.”
Adam Webb explains why US investors are targeting Rangers
St Johnstone aren’t the only club with a US owner in Scotland either.
Webb took over at Saints in the summer of 2024 but over ten years ago Dundee were bought over by Tim Keyes and John Nelms.
Bournemouth owner Bill Foley has a sizeable stake at Hibs, whilst Dave Cormack is the Scottish-American businessman at the helm of Aberdeen.
Webb was asked why American money is so interested in investing in Scottish football and for the St Johnstone it’s simple; history.
”You have the history,” Webb explains. “You have it being ingrained in communities.
“Their father and their grandfather took them to their first game and how they continue those traditions.
”It’s very foreign for us in the United States. We love it, we just can’t get enough of it so for us it’s a fascinating world that we want to be more a part of.
”That is something really should be emphasised with promoting the Scottish league around the world.”
