The Americans could walk away- Daily Mail breaks rank over Ibrox ‘takeover’

The Daily Mail has broken rank over the Ibrox Takeover by admitting that ‘that the Americans could walk away if progress isn’t made sooner rather than later.

On February 19 Keith Jackson of the Daily Record broke the WORLD EXCLUSIVE of the takeover from the San Francsico 49ers, on March 1 Sky Sports News added that a deal had been agreed in principal to buy 51% of the shares with due diligence underway.

Internet Bampots doubted the story from the minute that Jackson revealed all , there were echoes of Craig Whyte throughout his latest WORLD EXCLUSIVE with fingerprints easily tracked back to South Africa.

The story was launched in the run up to Season Ticket renewals, the Ibrox club currently has an interim manager and a home record of five defeats and a draw in their last six home games.

Despite that the anticipation of multi-million pound investment has ensured Season Ticket renewals are flooding in with debate raging over whether Mikel Arteta, Jose Mourinho or Pep Guardiola will be wearing next season’s blazer and brogues.

In reality nothing has progressed over the last two months, picking up on that Calum Crowe of the Daily Mail is the first in the mainstream to break the news that the much anticipated takeover is just another media fantasy.

Tellingly he raises the prospect of Sandy Easdale being involved, the Renfrewshire businessman was sentenced to 27 months i,prisonment in 1997 for VAT fraud.

The Mail reports:

As they seek to gain a 51 per cent stake in Rangers, talks are understood to have snagged slightly due to unexpected resistance from senior figures within the club.

While a deal is still broadly expected to go through eventually, Mail Sport understands that the Americans are having difficulty in reaching the required 51 per cent shareholding.

That has forced them to look elsewhere to try to mop up shares, bringing billionaire businessman Easdale back into the equation as someone who could help facilitate a deal.

Easdale is exceptionally wealthy but probably still short of the billionaire status that was gifted to Craig Whyte in November 2010. Easdale does have the legendary Jack Irvine as his PR manager, Irvine is kindly name checked towards the end of the report.

The Easdale brothers were both Directors of the 2012 Tribute Act but were ousted in March 2015 when People Power swept Dave King and Douglas Park into the Blue Room.

Easdale retained his small shareholding in the company, recently he bought out Blue Pitch Holdings, one of the mysterious founding fathers that invested with Charles Green in 2012.

The report adds:

Easdale’s total shares in Rangers now sit at around 2.25 per cent – and that could prove vital as the Americans look to mop up the required shares to take over.

Despite the fact that he remains a hugely controversial figure among supporters, Easdale is understood to be supportive of the proposed takeover.

He is said to recognises the need for fresh investment in Rangers and believes the expertise of a global franchise such as the 49ers could be key in helping monetise previously untapped areas of the business.

Getting towards the main issue the report adds:

Sources have indicated to Mail Sport that frustration could be growing among the US consortium about the length of time it’s taking to thrash out a deal.

Initial talks began as far back as October last year, with the move being made public in February.

However, no formal agreement has yet been reached and one source indicated to Mail Sport that the Americans could walk away if progress isn’t made sooner rather than later.

On February 19 Jackson exclusively revealed that talks were at an advanced stage as he drooled over summer spending plans bankrolled from San Fransico.

Slowly now we can expect the story to be dropped, leaving the club under the leadership of Paddy Stewart with six different investors requiring to be bought out to gain 51% control.

Irvine does mention Douglas Park but it remains beyond the scope of any legacy media outlet to contact the Lanarkshire based businessman to get his views on the American takeover.

After Dave King, Park is the second largest shareholder in the club with a holding of 11.54%.