Barry Ferguson’s enthusiasm for the rumored Rangers takeover is spiraling into lofty dreams of Champions League glory and toppling Celtic from their dominant position in Scottish football.
Reports suggest Rangers are deep in discussions with a US consortium spearheaded by Paraag Marathe, the president of 49ers Enterprises and chairman of Leeds United.
The investment arm of the NFL’s San Francisco 49ers, 49ers Enterprises, is backed by the wealthy York family, who Forbes estimates have a fortune of $6.7 billion.
The news has sparked jubilation among Rangers supporters, though Ferguson, a former captain, is letting his imagination run wild with his support for the awkward ‘Make Rangers Great Again’ slogan.
In his Daily Record column, Ferguson has been speculating about the potential influx of funds from Marathe’s group, suggesting it could be a game-changer for the Ibrox side.
An overly excited Ferguson on the takeover rumors:
In his piece, Ferguson couldn’t resist mentioning Celtic twice—first highlighting their financial superiority and then expressing his desire for Rangers to dethrone Scotland’s most decorated club.
“I’m trying my best not to get carried away. But it’s difficult”, began Ferguson.
“Because, from the moment the Daily Record broke the news about the San Francisco 49ers and a possible Ibrox takeover, I’ve had the feeling that this might be the chance to Make Rangers Great Again.
“Like I say, there’s still some way to go before the Americans have got this deal over the line. And it’s natural to feel a bit wary until the deal is over the line because these things are never done until they are done.
“But, over the last 24 hours, I’ve been looking into what this might mean for my old club and I must admit, I’m excited.
“This doesn’t feel like pie in the sky. It feels like the real deal – and anyone with any connection with Rangers knows it’s exactly what the place has been crying out for.”
Ferguson elaborated on why he believes 49ers Enterprises could steer Rangers toward success, before tossing out yet another bold and hasty claim about overtaking Celtic.
He continued: “If the right people put the right plan in place to return the club to No.1 spot in Scottish football, the opportunities are massive.
“And I’m pretty sure that’ll be the motivation behind this potential buy out. Which can only be good news for Rangers.
“If this deal goes through then the first priority will be to win back the domestic title because that’s what the whole business model will be based on.
“If any investor wants to maximise their returns, it means getting into the Champions League. And that means knocking Celtic off their perch.
“That’s certainly music to my ears and I’m pretty sure almost all my fellow fans out there will be feeling the same way.”
Why Leeds United could temper Ferguson’s optimism:
Ferguson’s head is in the clouds rather than grounded in reality. A closer look reveals that a 49ers Enterprises takeover might not bring the financial windfall he envisions.
Without a major cash boost, Rangers stand little chance of closing the gap on Celtic, who are set to pocket over £50 million from this season’s Champions League, dwarfing Rangers’ £18 million from the Europa League.
Finance guru Kieran Maguire weighed in on X, offering a sobering perspective to counter the excitement of fans like Ferguson.
He pointed out that with 49ers Enterprises already owning Leeds United, Rangers supporters shouldn’t anticipate a dramatic financial overhaul.
Maguire wrote: “The biggest issue at Rangers is in relation to boardroom and investor issues as there has been a lot of conflict, although things seem to be improving.
“New owners could assist, but note that SF49’ers already own Leeds United so it is unlikely to be a huge cash injection.”
