Rangers’ domestic struggles may persist despite the impending takeover by the 49ers, led by Paraag Marathe and Andrew Cavanagh. The club trails Celtic by 15 points in the Scottish Premiership and has been eliminated from European competitions after a 2-0 loss to Athletic Bilbao in the Europa League.
The delayed takeover has raised concerns about Rangers’ ability to bridge the gap with Celtic in the short term. Keith Jackson believes that Celtic’s lead is substantial, and it will be challenging for Rangers to make a significant impact next season. Speaking on Hotline Live, Jackson said, “My own view is that they are leaving it really late in terms of putting down the building blocks to make themselves competitive in time for the start of the next season.”
While the takeover promises an exciting new era for Rangers, several issues remain unresolved. The future of interim manager Barry Ferguson is uncertain, and the team needs a significant rebuild to catch up with Celtic. Additionally, several star players, including Nicolas Raskin and Hamza Igamane, have attracted interest from clubs south of the border, which could lead to key departures.
The takeover will likely bring an initial feel-good factor to Ibrox, but the atmosphere could quickly sour if solutions aren’t found, and the team continues to struggle. The new ownership will need to act swiftly to address the club’s issues and make meaningful changes to the squad and coaching staff.
Given the current circumstances, it may take Rangers years to catch up with Celtic, making it a daunting task for the new ownership. The delay in the takeover has already put pressure on the club’s preparations for the upcoming season, and it remains to be seen whether the 49ers can bring about the desired change and restore Rangers to their former glory.
