Rangers shareholder shares ‘fear’ for Leeds in new 49ers takeover update
Leeds United may be pleased to have won promotion to the Premier League, but a big challenge lies ahead.
With all three newly promoted teams coming straight back down this season, it serves as a reminder to the Whites that they will have to up their game in the top flight.
The 49ers have backed Daniel Farke so far in terms of investment and they will no doubt be ready to do the same in preparation for the Premier League, despite PSR restrictions being tight.
49ers could seek feeder arrangement for Leeds and Rangers
The 49ers may be invested in their journey with Leeds, but the owners have also been embarking on another challenge, looking to complete a takeover at Rangers.
Investment in the Scottish Premiership club should not be enough to distract the Americans from their job at Leeds, but it could well see a relationship form between the two sides.
It has previously been suggested that Rangers could become a feeder club for Leeds United, especially now they have gained promotion to the Premier League, allowing the 49ers to sell their best assets to themselves.
However, former Rangers chairman and current shareholder, Dave King, has suggested that the relationship could operate the other way round, as he highlighted the risks facing Paraag Marathe and his team at Elland Road.
When asked by Simon Jordan live on talkSPORT (7 May, 11:54) if there is a “fear” of the investment in Leeds distracting the owners from Rangers and leading to a feeder club set-up, King replied: “I see the opposite as being the risk, I don’t want to be unkind to Leeds.
“But the difference, which is understood by Andrew [Cavanagh] and the 49ers, is that with Rangers, you don’t have the yo-yo risk.
“At least if they come into Rangers, they know that European football is pretty much assured and there’s a reasonable level of certainty at how low Rangers can go. I think the situation’s very different for Leeds United, and the type of investment required in England to maintain that can be challenging for any investor.
“Whereas, if you look at Scotland and the size of Scotland, the exposure they will get as a club participating in, I’m not saying a two team league but it’s difficult not to see Celtic or Rangers winning the league so European football in various stages will be there, so I think it’s easier to put the financial plan and football plan in a club like Rangers than it is Leeds United.”
Leeds United need full focus on Premier League survival
Leeds United can be very grateful for the job that has been done by the 49ers during their time at Elland Road so far, and since taking full control, things have certainly gone in the right direction.
However, with promotion comes an immediate risk of relegation, and the investors have to give the Yorkshire club their full attention in order to ensure that this doesn’t happen.
Although you would expect a feeder set-up to be from Ibrox to West Yorkshire, as King points out, the Gers are pretty much guaranteed European football every year, which in itself brings in some good money.
| Team | Competitions this season |
| Leeds United | Championship (champions), FA Cup (knocked out fourth round), Carabao Cup (knocked out first round) |
| Rangers | Scottish Premiership (second), Europa League (quarter-finals), Scottish Cup (knocked out fifth round) |
Leeds, on the other hand, could find themselves battling a relegation fight, with questions being asked of the manager.
If the Whites can ensure their top-flight safety next season, that will no doubt take plenty of pressure off the shoulders of those at Elland Road.
From that point, the 49ers can then assess how they can use their two assets to boost one another.