February 21 – A US-led takeover bid for Scottish giants Rangers is at an advanced stage with the bid being run by an investment arm of San Francisco 49ers, according to multiple reports.
According to the BBC, there is “broad agreement” between all parties, with current shareholders expected to sell all, or part, of their stake in the club in the coming months.
Rangers trail arch-rivals Celtic by 13 points in the Scottish Premiership and are out of the Scottish Cup after a shock defeat by Championship side Queen’s Park earlier this month.
Off the field, they posted a net loss of £17.2 million in October 2024 despite what they called record revenue and income figures for the year to June.
Paraag Marathe, the Leeds United chairman and the force behind 49ers Enterprises, is reported to be a key player in the prospective takeover.
49ers Enterprises has full control of Championship leaders Leeds after a £170 million takeover in July 2023 but would be limited to less than a third of the Gers under current Scottish FA ownership rules.
“We are open to anyone who approaches us on investment. But it has to be the right people and the right conditions and for the right amount of shares,” a Rangers spokesperson was quoted as saying. “We don’t want one person owning the club.”
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