Football club management can be a funny old game, but football club management can be just as important particularly in the modern world where finances play an even bigger role in determining the difference between success, just treading water and then abject failure.
The models of ownership in the modern game are wide and varied and Scottish Premiership side Rangers are one of the many clubs in the game whose deep history has given them the experience of both the good, and bad, in both the boardroom and the dugout. For fans who like a flutter, or now enjoy casino games real money as they play for fun and relax, they will know sticking to a plan is key and football is no different.
After their very dark days of being punished and relegated, they are back to what they would say was their rightful place as the Old Firm sides continue their own personal battle to dominate the division and secure the relevant silverware at play in the Scottish game.
The club have been undergoing quite the off pitch restructure in recent seasons and they have not hidden the fact that they were looking for new investment so that they could kick on once again and attempt to more quickly plug the financial gap that has built up with Celtic, and others, owing to their time out of the top flight and European competition.
In recent days there has been movement on that front, and Leeds United owners, the 49ers Enterprises arm, are said to be significantly interested in adding Rangers to their sporting portfolio. Rangers are not in the position the Elland Road outfit were when they began to take charge - they had not just been relegated with the more immediate financial hit that means in the English game, and nor had they just very quickly cycled through four managers with widely different perceptions on how the 'beautiful game' should be played and they certainly do not have some of the more bizarre contractual options that Leeds players were given in play.
18 odd months on, Leeds are again challenging for promotion and they have sensible investment, a sensible transfer strategy, and more importantly, stability both on and off the pitch. Their chairman, Paraag Marathe is heavily involved in their Rangers discussions, and whilst a lot of new potential owners are always unknown, Marathe's involvement allows Gers fans to look at the 49ers record so far, and their likely actions should a deal ultimately be done.
For Rangers it would mean a joined up plan at boardroom level, with all positions filled to maximise the potential strength of the manager, who would be able to implement their plan properly within constraints that are not ever changing. Marathe has overseen smaller, but notable additional investment into Leeds that also brings great PR and reputational gains - we are talking Will Ferrell, Russell Crowe and Michael Phelps to name three.
Marathe also heads a very quiet board who do not seek the spotlight, but work diligently in the background and given his own expertise in negotiating contracts, the Ibrox renovation faux pars at the beginning of the year would also likely be a thing of the past.
Whilst there are never any real guarantees in football, should this deal be concluded, Rangers have every reason to be even more hopeful for the future.
Content by reddog.
