Keith Wyness wowed by Rangers board – ‘Celtic are twitching, £20m has been approved’
Rangers’ new owners 49ers Enterprises and Andrew Cavenagh have started their reign with a bang after a £20million cash injection was approved last week.
The money will be significant at Ibrox, with the Gers recording a £17million loss in their most recent financial results.
Rangers are now 51% owned by the 49ers, who are also in control at Leeds United, and Cavenagh after a tumultous period at the Glasgow giants.
Kevin Thelwell has been brought in as the club’s new sporting director and former Gers defender Russell Martin has been appointed as head coach.
Aberdeen’s former chief Keith Wyness – who served as CEO at Pittodrie between 2000 and 2004, had lengthy spells as the chief of Everton and Aston Villa and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – has taken aim at Rangers’ “shambolic” former board, who oversaw just one Scottish Premiership title win in the last 14 years.
‘Celtic are starting to twitch’ after Rangers takeover, says Wyness
Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, Wyness insisted the new custodians “will get things wrong” but claimed Rangers are “on the right track at last”.
Rangers start their competitive 2025-26 campaign with a Champions League qualifier against Panathinaikos on 22 July.
Wyness insisted Celtic will be “starting to twitch a little bit” about the prospect of coming up against a “fighting force” in their Old Firm rivals.
He told Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast: “I’m really impressed with the whole breath of fresh air that’s coming in.
“It’s night and day compared to the shambolic board that Rangers have had, and I’ve been really critical of them.
“Now I’m much more positive about what Rangers have got going on for next year.
“I can start to see Celtic starting to twitch a little bit, that they could be up against a real fighting force next year with Rangers and I think the fans should be a little bit hopeful.
“Let’s just see, but for Rangers, I think things are looking brighter, but we’re still not there yet. They’ve got work to do, but all the right noises are coming out.
“There’s money being put in, £20million approved at the AGM. All good, so all positive signs.
“And at last, people that understand the game a little bit more are in charge.
“They’re not going to be perfect. They’re going to get a few things wrong. It may take a couple of seasons, but I think they’re on the right track at last.”
Rangers open talks to sign League One star
Meanwhile, Football Insider has also revealed (25 June) that Rangers have opened talks to sign Peterborough defender Emmanuel Fernandez.
Fernandez was wanted by Norwich in the January window but ended up staying at League One outfit Peterborough for the remainder of the 2024-25 campaign.
The 23-year-old made 42 appearances across all competitions for the Posh in the 2024-25 campaign, starting in 39 of those outings.
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