Rangers’ takeover by the 49ers Enterprises group is nearing completion, with the US consortium in the final stages of securing a controlling stake in the Ibrox club. According to a joint statement from both parties, “productive talks” took place last week. Recently, Andrew Cavenagh and Paraag Marathe were seen touring the iconic stadium, with the deal expected to be finalized by the summer.
As the Old Firm clash against Celtic on May 4 approaches, Rangers find themselves with little to play for, as the title has already been decided. Despite this, reports from the Daily Record suggest that Andrew Cavenagh will attend the match and is expected to be a regular presence at Ibrox next season. However, doubts have arisen regarding Paraag Marathe’s involvement. The report mentions that Marathe may not be as prominent, largely due to his growing responsibilities at Leeds United, who have just secured promotion to the Premier League. Marathe’s role with the 49ers could lead him to step back from regular involvement at Rangers, as his focus shifts to Leeds.
Rangers supporters need not be concerned if Marathe is less present at Ibrox in the future. Marathe has confidence in his colleagues, such as Andrew Cavenagh and Gretar Steinsson, to oversee operations at the club. Steinsson, a former Iceland international footballer, has demonstrated his ability to manage teams in his roles at Tottenham and Everton, and he is trusted to handle the Govan club’s affairs. If Marathe chooses to focus on his responsibilities with Leeds, he will likely leave the management of Rangers to Cavenagh and Steinsson, whom he trusts to run things smoothly.
| Club | Role | Duration |
| Fleetwood | Technical director | 2014-15 to 2018-19 |
| Everton | Scout/Chief Scout | 2018-19 to 2021-22 |
| Tottenham | Performance manager | 2022-23 to 2023-24 |
| Leeds | Technical director | 2023-24 to present |
There are several pressing issues to address at Rangers, most notably the future of interim manager Ferguson, whose mixed spell in charge could see him replaced. Additionally, the summer transfer window is expected to bring interest in key players like Hamza Igamane and Nicolas Raskin. The 49ers will face the challenge of holding onto these players while also overhauling the squad, which is currently seen as underperforming. Whether or not Marathe attends many games should not be a major concern for Rangers fans, as his absence is unlikely to affect the club’s future plans.
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