Kieran Maguire tells Rangers to be ‘very cautious’ amid ‘awkward’ sponsor clash
Rangers must proceed with caution after Uefa signed off on a new partnership with Australian betting brand Bwin.
So says finance guru Kieran Maguire, speaking exclusively to Football Insider about the implications for Rangers’ own betting sponsor, 32 Red.
Uefa announced on 7 September that Bwin would sponsor the Europa League and Europa Conference League for the next three seasons.
Rangers are currently embroiled in a dispute with the SPFL over the league’s title sponsorship arrangement with car retailer Cinch.
The Scottish champions refused to display Cinch’s branding at Ibrox because of their pre-existing relationship with Park’s Motors Group.
Park’s Motors Group is owned by Ibrox chairman Douglas Park.
That case has now been referred to the Scottish FA for independent arbitration.
Rangers will bank an instant windfall from the Uefa-Bwin deal but must be careful to avoid another Cinch situation, claims Maguire.
“This money goes into the overall pot and some will come back to Rangers,” he told Football Insider correspondent Adam Williams.
“We then enter that slightly awkward territory because Rangers have their own betting partner.
“Remember, they have a similar dispute that they have with the SPFL with regards to Cinch.
“If they are going to promote Bwin, does that give them a conflict of interest with their existing partner?
“They have to be very cautious how they managed this, but ultimately it’s more money into the pot.
“That can only benefit the club in terms of its revenue generation.”
Rangers face Lyon, Sparta Prague and Brondby in the Europa League group stage this season.
Their first match, against Lyon, is on 16 September at Ibrox.
In other news, pundit tips Glen Kamara’s new Rangers contract tipped to include release clause.