It’s set to be a new era at Rangers once the San Francisco 49ers’ takeover is rubber-stamped – but it may be a gradual overhaul at boardroom level, as their stance on CEO Patrick Stewart and chairman Fraser Thornton has emerged.
It’s been a scarcely believable season of change at Ibrox with Stewart and Thornton coming in last year to lead the club late last year following John Bennett’s departure. The new leadership team hesitated on dispensing with Philippe Clement but finally pulled the trigger in February – replacing him by an interim coaching team headed up by Barry Ferguson.
That all of course came against the backdrop of Record Sport’s bombshell exclusive that an investment group funded by the San Francisco 49ers are in advanced talks to buy a major stake in the Ibrox club. That’s likely to be concluded by the summer, with Leeds United chairman Paraag Marathe leading the takeover.
But according to reports, he won’t be taking on the same role at Rangers which he holds at Elland Road – in the meantime, at least. The Daily Mail say the initial intention from the US consortium is to keep both Stewart and Thornton in place in the immediate aftermath of the deal, potentially signalling an intent to manage from a distance to begin with. That would mirror the approach they took with Leeds United, gradually building up their involvement from fractional part-owners in 2018 to running the club outright in 2023.
Record Sport understand that the 49ers’ led investment group plan to become the single largest shareholder in the club from the outset. Former chairman Dave King who owns almost 13 per cent, Douglas Park retains nearly 12 per cent, George Taylor holds just over 10 per cent, Stuart Gibson is not far behind with John Bennett on around seven per cent. Directors Julian Wolhardt and John Halsted share a combined stake of just over 12 per cent.
Their own appointments in key positions line CEO in chairman can naturally be expected in time but it seems they have no plans for an instant overhaul with Stewart and Thornton still in their respective first years at the club.
Where 49ers stand on 2 key Rangers supremos as update emerges on plans for after takeover
