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Scottish Sun
4 days ago
- Business
- Scottish Sun
Inside Rangers owner Andrew Cavenagh's secret Ibrox mission as he bought ticket and sat with normal fans before takeover
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) ANDREW CAVENAGH made up his mind to secure a controlling investment in Rangers as he brought a regular ticket and sat in the cheap seats in the Copland Stand. Cavenagh, who made his money in the US health insurance sector, secured a 51% stake in tandem with 49ers Enterprises big hitter Paraag Marathe in June. Sign up for the Rangers newsletter Sign up 4 Chairman Andrew Cavenagh and vice-chair Paarag Marathe at Ibrox Stadium Credit: Willie Vass 4 Fans at Ibrox 4 Andrew Cavenagh Credit: Getty And he was sold on the deal when making a secret mission to the Copland Stand on November 23 - buying a normal ticket to sit amongst the fans after battling through a snowstorm. Former Rangers director Paul Murray, who had met Cavenagh weeks earlier, told the Daily Record: "I think the two things which really struck me about Andrew that day were, first of all he was really engaged and obviously really interested in what I was saying, but also we were playing a game against Hearts at Ibrox a couple of days later on the Sunday. "He actually said to me, 'I think I'll just with all fly up to and he Ibrox and go to the 'I'm game.' "I asked if he wanted me on his chat to try to speak to someone and he said, 'No, I'll just get a ticket and I'll just go.' "As it turned out, for various reasons he wasn't able to go as he had some family stuff on, but he then contacted me about a week later and said he wanted to go to the Dundee United game, which was in the middle of November. "Again, I asked if he wanted me to help and he said, 'No, I'll just go and get a ticket - a normal ticket for any area of the ground.' I think he actually went into the Copland (Road) Stand. "But I thought that was quite interesting. A guy with that wealth and he just thought, 'I'm going to buy a ticket.' "He flew up to Glasgow, bought a ticket on his own. He went with a couple of other guys and you might remember it was a really bizarre game because it was meant to be a three o'clock kick-off on the Saturday and it was really bad weather. "It was the middle of November, but there were snow drifts and crazy weather to the point that Dundee United couldn't get down the A9. Rangers fans unfurl giant tifo ahead of Russell Martin's first match "He actually contacted me to say, 'When does the game start?' "I said, 'I've just looked and apparently it's been delayed until four o'clock!' "So it was a really weird day and Andrew was basically walking about the stadium, looking at the stands and nobody knew who this guy was. "The other thing that happened that day was there were quite a lot of fan protests as well as having the snow drifts to contend with. But it obviously didn't put him off." Have YOU got a point for Kris Boyd? Kris Boyd and Roger Hannah chew over the big talking points each week SOMETHING you've just got to get off your chest from the weekend action? A burning Scottish football talking point you can't wait to bring up with Kris Boyd and Roger Hannah? SunSport's GoBallistic show wants to hear from you! So why not help set the Scottish football agenda for the week ahead! Have your say on the game's big topics by emailing us on: GoBallistic@ It's YOUR turn to Go Ballistic! 4 Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
The Herald Scotland
23-07-2025
- Sport
- The Herald Scotland
So can Russell Martin and his new recruits bring success at Rangers?
And eternally optimistic fans have always been eager to see if the close season recruits who their new or newish manager has brought on board during turbulent weeks of wholesale change have the ability and mentality required to turn them into the dominant side in Scotland and a force in Europe. Rarely has the early promise which Rangers supporters have witnessed in the opening fixture ever been built upon – they have lifted the Scottish title on just one occasion since winning promotion to the top flight in 2016 – but still they flock through the turnstiles in their numbers at the beginning of every new campaign. Read more: Last night was no different. There was not a spare seat in the house to be had as James Tavernier and his team-mates launched their bid to reach the Champions League league phase with a second qualifying round meeting with Panathinaikos of Greece at home. So will Bears be growling once again about their board's poor choice of head coach and their hierarchy's stupidity for sanctioning the signings of footballers who are clearly not up to the task come October? Or are the new owners - a consortium that comprises 49ers Enterprises and American healthcare tycoon Andrew Cavenagh, who was in attendance for the first meaningful fixture of his reign as chairman – poised to deliver the success which the Glasgow giants' legions of followers have long craved? It would be wrong to read too much into this outing. It was only the second time that Russell Martin's men, who drew 2-2 with Club Brugge of Belgium at Ibrox earlier this month, had played in front of supporters. Only three new boys, Nasser Djiga, Max Aarons and Joe Rothwell, were named in the starting line-up. Rangers will need more matches to familiarise themselves with their manager's formation and gameplan in a competitive environment. It would be premature to judge them after this tough 90 minutes against decent opposition. They have only been training as a group for four weeks. Many of them for far less than that. (Image: Andrew Milligan) Will the front three of Findlay Curtis, Danilo and Kieran Dowell be seen again in the coming 10 months? It was far from the first choice forward line. Hamza Igamane and Cyriel Dessers not being fully fit was a blow for Martin. Still, it is safe to say there is, despite the vital victory, room for improvement going forward. It is not an exaggeration to state that Rangers fans were not entirely impressed with what they witnessed during much of the evening. They lived dangerously at times and will need to do better in Athens next week to progress further in the continent's elite club competition. Rangers were bright early on. Spectators were struck by how Tavernier and Aarons pushed up and inside when the hosts were in possession. Central midfielder Rothwell was direct and used the ball well. Djiga was comfortable at the back. Are they significant upgrades on the players they replaced? Only time will tell. Former Scotland centre-half Martins was as vocal and animated in his technical area as he was on the pitch in his playing days. He shouted instructions and gesticulated wildly from kick-off to the final whistle. He was certainly not slow to express his displeasure to fourth official Robertas Smitas if he felt that Lithuanian referee Donatas Rumsas had made a bad decision. But he would not have been happy at the ease with which Rui Vitoria's charges cut through his rearguard. His team would have been beaten had it not been for the outstanding saves which Jack Butland produced. His goalkeeper, who was dropped by his predecessor Barry Ferguson at the tail end of last season, denied Facundo Pelistri, Tasos Bakasetas and Filip Duricic brilliantly. Read more: The ex-MK Dons, Swansea City and Southampton manager is clearly not afraid to give youth a chance. Curtis struggled to cope with the pace and physicality of the game at times. But the 18-year-old, who was making his first European start, stuck to his task impressively and broke the deadlock in sensational fashion to more than justify his selection. He was a worthy recipient of the Man of the Match award. The Auchenhowie academy graduate will take confidence from his mature showing. (Image: Andrew Milligan) Djedi Gassama came on along with Dessers and Igamane to make his bow in the closing stages. The former Paris Saint-Germain kid, a £2.2m acquisition from Sheffield Wednesday, promptly netted a second, a carbon copy of the first, to send the majority of the 49,548-strong crowd wild. The 21-year-old winger ensured the night finished on a hugely positive note. But Martin will want to see more ruthlessness in the final third, greater cohesion in the middle of the park and better organisation at the back. Tavernier stated at the pre-match press conference that fans will not have witnessed a style of football like the one his new manager wants his side to play before. That was not exactly evident against Panathinaikos. But these remain early days and there were certainly signs that more is to come. The hope remains.
Daily Mail
22-07-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
ANALYSIS: Thrills and spills at Ibrox but new Rangers manager Russell Martin silences any early critics
With Andrew Cavenagh and other figures from 49ers Enterprises watching from the stands, this was to be the start of a bold new era on and off the pitch for Rangers. When Russell Martin was appointed as manager, it was already clear there would be a break from the normal traditions when his unveiling did not take place inside the blue room at Ibrox. It was no surprise, then, that the famous brown brogues made famous by so many Ibrox bosses over the years were also conspicuous by their absence last night as Martin took charge in the dugout for the first time. Still smartly turned out in the navy blue club suit, with a t-shirt and loafers to match, he opted for the more modern look. Prowling the touchline and coaching his players through the game at every opportunity, Martin was an animated figure. Especially during a chaotic first half when his team would have been a couple of goals down had it not been for a return to form of Jack Butland. Rangers made for a nervy watch at times. The home side were much improved in the second half. Joe Rothwell was the orchestrator in the middle of the pitch and looks like he will be the fulcrum of the new-look midfield under Martin. After goals from Findlay Curtis and substitute Djeidi Gassama had fired Rangers to a 2-0 win, Martin joined his players in a walk around the pitch to applaud the fans at full-time. For a manager whose appointment was met with such an outpouring of dissatisfaction, early progress in Europe would be a good way to silence the critics. The job is not yet done. A far different test will await in Athens next week. But this was a night when Martin's reign started with a bang. Given that many had expected him to fall flat on his face right from the off, that in itself felt like a positive for a manager who needs to build as much early credit in the bank as possible.
Daily Mail
20-07-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
This Rangers side can't possibly be ready for Europe, writes GARY KEOWN... and Russell Martin is in big danger of his own Artmedia moment
For years, that iconic badge has been emblazoned proudly on the wall of the main stand at Ibrox. A golden lion on a royal blue background with the word 'Ready' underneath — in big, bold capital letters. If one club looks the absolute opposite of its motto right now, though, it's Rangers. We all know the summer takeover by chairman Andrew Cavenagh and his US consortium ate up a lot of time and energy. We know their plan is one based on long-term investment rather than short-term splurges.
The Guardian
16-07-2025
- Business
- The Guardian
US owners have taken over half of the Scottish Premiership – what's in it for them?
A club that plays in red, white and blue was always ripe for American investment. The arrival of Andrew Cavenagh and the San Francisco 49ers as Rangers' new owners has the potential to shake up a Scottish top division that has been won by Rangers' fierce rivals, Celtic, in 13 of the last 14 seasons. It's not just at the top, however, where American money is reshaping Scottish soccer. Six of the Scottish Premiership's 12 clubs are now American-owned. The 49ers' purchase of Rangers wasn't even the only US takeover of a Scottish club this summer: Calvin Ford, the great-great-grandson of Henry Ford, completed a deal to buy Livingston. Scotland's top division is now just one club away from having a majority of American owners. The trend started in 2013 when Tim Keyes and John Nelms turned up at Dundee. Five years later, Mark Ogren bought Dundee United. More recently, Bournemouth owner Bill Foley invested in Hibernian, who have been owned by the Gordon family since 2019, while St Johnstone were bought by Adam Webb. All Americans and all bullish on the untapped potential of Scottish soccer. Of course, American investment in soccer is not unique to Scotland. Half of the Premier League's 20 clubs now under US ownership following Dan Friedkin's takeover of Everton in September, adding the film producer's name to a list that includes Foley, Fenway Sports Group, the Glazers, Stan Kroenke, Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital, Wes Edens, John Textor and Shahid Khan. Nine EFL clubs, including Birmingham City and Wrexham, are also American-owned, offering a lower on-ramp for those without the funds to go toe-to-toe with a sovereign wealth fund. The on-ramp to get into Scottish soccer is even lower, partially explaining why so many American millionaires have looked north of the England/Scotland border to invest. While the 49ers were able to snag a majority ownership stake in Rangers for £150m ($200m), New York Jets owner Woody Johnson has agreed to pay more than that (£190m/$254m) for a smaller share (44.9%) in Crystal Palace, a club that finished 12th in the Premier League last season. Friedkin had to pay over £400m ($535m) for Everton who have spent the last few seasons flirting with relegation. Rangers can only look enviously over Hadrian's Wall at the self-proclaimed Best League In The World and its associated riches, but they do have access to European soccer. Indeed, the Govan club made a run to the Europa League final three seasons ago and played in the Champions League two seasons ago, earning tens of millions in the process. Today there are more Scottish teams in Europe than ever before, largely due to the creation of the Conference League. The likes of Aberdeen, Dundee United, Hearts, Hibernian, Kilmarnock, Motherwell and St Mirren were previously locked out of continental competition on account of Celtic and Rangers' strength, all have qualified for the Conference League in recent seasons, giving them a path to continental football and associated financial rewards. Sign up to Soccer with Jonathan Wilson Jonathan Wilson brings expert analysis on the biggest stories from European soccer after newsletter promotion This along with the rise of multi-club ownership has changed the investment landscape in Scottish soccer. Hibernian are part of Foley's Black Knight network that includes Bournemouth, Auckland FC and FC Lorient. Brighton owner Tony Bloom recently acquired a stake in Hearts that puts the Edinburgh club under the same umbrella as the Premier League club and Belgian champions Union Saint-Gilloise. Aberdeen have a partnership with Atlanta United. And now, with the 49ers purchase, Rangers have a connection with Leeds United. But which club sits higher in the hierarchy? Scottish fans are insecure about their position in the food chain and the growth of multi-club ownership has only exacerbated that anxiety. Not every new American owner has been welcomed with open arms. Motherwell supporters last year voted against a takeover by US-based Erik and Courtney Barmack, a former Netflix vice-president and a Snap Inc executive. Foley, too, has faced questions. Should Hibernian really be a feeder club to Bournemouth, a team with an average attendance of just over 11,000 last season that had until fairly recently played most of its history in the lower leagues? Perhaps not, but this is the reality of the modern game. It's also an indication of how Scottish soccer needs help. It's been 40 years since a team not called Celtic or Rangers won the title. A study commissioned by the Scottish FA last year said the sport is 'significantly underachieving' in youth potential compared to other countries of a similar size. Just 12% of all minutes in the Scottish Premiership last season were given to players age 21 or under. And while more Scottish teams are involved in Europe, none made it past the group stage of the most recent Conference League, a fact made starker by Irish side Shamrock Rovers' run to the knockout phase last season. The hope was that the new third-tier competition would give Scottish clubs a platform to reach new heights. Instead, it has exposed just how far off the required standard they are. There's no guarantee American money will change any of this. Nelms has been in charge at Dundee for over a decade, but has yet to turn the club into the talent factory he originally planned. St Johnstone suffered relegation for the first time in 16 years last season not long after the arrival of new owners. Their fans expected more. The history of Scottish soccer and the passion of its fans is part of what makes it so attractive to outsider investors. So too is the sense that the Scottish game, with some new ideas and renewed ambition, could be something more. The American dream has taken on a tartan tinge.
