Rangers drop major takeover hint after Malcolm Offord news – Keith Wyness
Aberdeen’s former chief Keith Wyness has claimed news of Malcolm Offord’s imminent Rangers appointment hints at “significant new investment” at the club.
Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, the 66-year-old – who served as CEO at Aberdeen between 2000 and 2004, had lengthy spells as the chief of Everton and Aston Villa and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – claimed he and Patrick Stewart would not have agreed to come to Ibrox without the promise of new money.
According to The Scottish Sun (23 November), 60-year-old Offord is the leading contender to replace John Bennett as the new Rangers permanent chairman.
He is a current member of the House of Lords and was Parliamentary Under Secretary of State in the Department of Business and Trade from April 2023 to July 2024.
Rangers have already confirmed (25 November) that Stewart will take the chief executive role and start work on 16 December.
Rangers could be set for takeover after Offord news, says Wyness
Wyness insisted the two key appointments are a “step forward” for the Glasgow giants.
He told Football Insider‘s Insider Track podcast: “Offord has got a very strong investment background.
“I think he and Stewart wouldn’t be coming to Rangers unless they knew there was some significant new funding coming in.
“I would imagine they will have been in talks over some new investment, to allow the chairman to restructure the board.
“They then have to sort out the football side.
“But if Offord is in place to handle this, it’s a step forward for Rangers. I’m surprised at the quality of these appointments.
“I’ve got to give plaudits to John Gilligan. I don’t think they would be coming in if there wasn’t the cavalry of a new investment group coming in.
“Offord is very tapped in to that side, he’s well-connected. It’s positive for Rangers.”
In other news, Rangers “looking at very clever loan signings” in January.
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