Leeds United and Rangers became linked earlier this year when the 49ers became the majority owner of the Glasgow giants towards the end of last season. Fans on both sides of the border are circumspect about their American owners and their plans for the two clubs.
The American consortium’s decision to invest in Rangers last season baffled Leeds fans who were expecting them to be completely focused on rebuilding the squad following promotion to the Premier League. However, the 49ers became majority owners at Ibrox with Leeds chairman Paraag Marathe assuming the vice-chairmanship at Rangers.
Appointing Russell Martin as the new manager was the first big decision of the 49ers at Rangers, and they did everything they could to back him during the summer transfer window.
However, Rangers have made a horrendous start to the season, leading to calls to sack Martin very early in the season. The 49ers have decided to stick with him for the time being.
Can you name these 10 former Leeds United midfielders?
| [freshpress-quiz id=”43915″] |
49ers told expectations at Rangers are bigger than at Leeds United
Rangers lost at home to Hearts at the weekend, which left them 10th in the Scottish Premiership standings, nine points behind their fiercest rivals, Celtic, who are at the top.
Martin’s future at Ibrox is under serious scrutiny, and former Rangers star Charlie Adam has urged the 49ers to act before it’s too late this season.
He stressed that Rangers are a bigger club than Leeds and expectations are far higher compared to at Elland Road. The former midfielder insisted that Martin must lose his job if results do not improve in the next couple of weeks.
“This is Rangers and this is a big club that needs to be fighting at the top end of the table and competing in Europe”, Adam said on PLZ Soccer.
“If he does not do that in the next few weeks, then ultimately the decision the board have got to make would be to change manager, but again, this board is new and ultimately it is a different club to be involved in at Leeds United than Rangers.”
Leeds and Rangers are not comparable
Scottish observers may have a different opinion about Rangers. However, Leeds are on a different level in the Premier League.
The Whites are the centre piece of the 49ers’ investment in football, and the Americans want to grow the club into a £1bn institution in the coming years.
Leeds in the Premier League are far more valuable to the 49ers than Rangers, where Scottish football’s finances are a hugely limiting factor.
Getting Rangers up to speed will also need sustained investment because of the financial disparity between them and Celtic.
For now, Leeds remain the most important club in the 49ers’ multi-club model, no matter how big Rangers feel they are.
Read that last paragraph again… Celtic???