Sky Sports has highlighted a potential complication involving Rangers and Leeds United as 49ers Enterprises’ takeover of the Ibrox club nears completion.
Rangers are about to enter a new era in Glasgow, with a deal in principle for 49ers Enterprises to acquire a controlling 51% stake in the club, led by Paraag Marathe.
Marathe also serves as chairman of Leeds, a club where 49ers Enterprises holds approximately 90% of the shares. As a result, discussions have emerged about the possibility of Rangers and Leeds entering into a multi-club agreement.
Rangers’ domestic season has taken a downturn, suffering their third consecutive home defeat at Ibrox over the weekend, and fans are eager for a fresh start as soon as possible.
Gordon Duncan outlines a potential Rangers–Leeds scenario
It’s becoming increasingly common for multiple teams to be part of multi-club models across Europe and the world, with both Rangers and Leeds potentially controlled by the same ownership group.
However, on Sky Sports News (3 March, 1:05 pm), journalist Gordon Duncan discussed the possible challenges that could arise if the 49ers make significant moves with both clubs.
Duncan said: “Leeds and Rangers are both massive clubs with proud histories and passionate fanbases, so it will be interesting to see how that dynamic plays out. There could be a few difficulties.”
“If Leeds return to the Premier League and qualify for European competition, things could get more complicated with UEFA.”
“However, when you look at other examples, like Manchester City and Girona, or Manchester United and Nice, UEFA hasn’t completely shut down these scenarios, and there are ways to navigate it.”
“It’s not impossible for both Rangers and Leeds to compete in Europe if that were to happen.”
Rangers: A perfect environment for 49ers to flourish
While the idea of Rangers and Leeds competing in Europe – and possibly facing each other like in the 1992 European Cup – is a potential future outcome, it seems more likely to happen at Ibrox than at Elland Road.
Rangers have consistently been a presence in European competitions, playing a crucial role in representing Scottish football and maintaining the country’s UEFA coefficient in recent years.
Despite their 2-1 defeat to Motherwell on Saturday, leaving them closer to third-place Hibernian than Celtic at the top, Rangers are still in contention for a Champions League spot.
Although they missed out on a financial boost from a play-off loss to Dynamo Kyiv earlier this season, Rangers’ European achievements remain significant.
That’s exactly what 49ers Enterprises will aim to build on when they take charge at Ibrox this summer, as Leeds faces a more difficult challenge. Rangers can offer their new owners a solid foundation for success in Europe.
Rangers and Leeds United complication arises as Sky Sports share takeover latest
