Rangers takeover chiefs issued brutal reality check over rivals Celtic and the huge task at hand

Daily Record

07-05-2025

Peter Lovenkrands has warned Rangers fans that prospective new Ibrox owners will be restricted in what they can spend to challenge Celtic next term
It's easy for Rangers fans to get carried away at the prospect of a £100 million US takeover.
But one of their former stars has dished out a brutal reality check ahead of their new owners' arrival at Ibrox.
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Peter Lovenkrands is as excited as any supporter about fresh investment in the club from 49ers Enterprises and Andrew Cavenagh.
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But the Dane has also issued a note of caution.
Lovenkrands has warned punters that the Americans WON'T be able to splash the cash the minute they walk up the marble staircase.
And despite their dreams of immediately challenging Celtic for honours, he makes the Hoops title favourites again next term.
Lovenkrands believes Cavenagh and Co don't just have to take control of the club - but undertake a massive rebuilding job at Ibrox and Auchenhowie.
He said: 'The job they've got on their hands is huge. And I don't even think that's just players.
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'It's the whole club. From what I see on the outside and from what I'm hearing - there's a big overhaul that needs to be done all the way through the club.
'It's a big task ahead for whoever takes over, who has to put their own stamp on things and try to change it.
'It's going to be big. So it'll be very interesting to see what direction they're going to go in because I think there's a lot of changes that need to be made.
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'Can they challenge Celtic? Again, it all depends on the change of ownership and the funding.
"Because even if they (49ers Enterprises) take over, there are also fair play rules for money spent.
'You can't just go and buy anybody you want now.
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'You have to play under the rules, so that's not going to be easy.
'There will also be players who don't want to leave. They probably have to - but won't want to.
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'So there are a lot of obstacles in the way.
'I think it'll be tough to go and deal with Celtic at the moment.
'They seem to be a lot more settled in what they're doing compared to Rangers.
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'So I think it'll be very tough.
'I still think Celtic will be favourites next year if nothing changes.'
Lovenkrands' former Gers team-mate, Barry Ferguson, met incoming sporting director Kevin Thelwell last week to discuss the future of the club having taken on the role as interim manager.
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The prospective new owners will have their own ideas on a permanent gaffer to replace Philippe Clement.
And Lovenkrands says Ferguson should at least be involved in the conversation.
But after the team failed to win at Ibrox on Sunday against Celtic for the seventh game in a row - he's adamant that whoever takes over has to hit the ground running at home.
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The 45-year-old said: 'It's a weird situation at Ibrox. We know what it's like being at Rangers or Celtic - your home is your fortress.
'You go away and try to dominate games but at home is where you should always get your points.
'That hasn't been the case with Rangers of late.
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'It's frustrating, tough to watch. But Rangers just have to look forward to next season now.
"It's about trying to figure out what they can build on.
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'Barry came into a tough situation. He inherited a team that's not up to scratch.
'That's just being honest, there are players probably not good enough and that has to change.
'But under the circumstances Barry has done OK. He had some fantastic performances in Europe and against Celtic.
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'But domestically against the smaller teams, that's been the Achilles heel.
'They're going behind in games and having to fight back, that's not normal at Rangers.
'Barry has been dealt a tough hand but he's coped with the pressure well. I've spoken to him and he's loving it.
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'From playing with him, I know his character and he's strong.
'His mentality is strong and in his head he'll know what to change.
'But if the new owners come in, will they have their own men? We just need to wait and see.
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'In these circumstances, I don't think anybody could have done a better job than Barry.
'He hasn't said anything to me about the job.
'But any person who comes in to take the team would hope they're in contention to get it full-time.
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'It's too big a job to say no to so if gets an offer, of course he'll say yes.
'It all depends on what the new owners want.
'They need to get new players in to challenge Celtic next season - there has to be a step up.'
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Thelwell will get his feet under the table at Auchenhowie next month when he officially arrives from Everton.
And as Rangers look to build a brighter future under new owners, Lovenkrands hopes someone can take the lead and make key decisions - without too many voices muddying the water.
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He said: 'I see it in the Premier League down south where there is so much money it's crazy.
'Clubs are trying to put people in roles that aren't suited to it and that's where football is changing for me.
'I go back to when I played for Rangers and it was David Murray. He was the owner, sporting director, everything. He had the final say.
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'Now, you have a board of 10 different voices who want to go in different directions.
'You don't have one person who says: 'This is what we're doing'.
'Now there are roles for everything. Sporting director, head of football, head of whatever.
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'Who has the final say on what's happening? I feel that's needed, especially in Scotland where the leagues don't have the money.
'You need that stability, with someone taking control of the football side.
'You don't have to give it to someone who has a Masters degree in all sorts but hasn't played the game.
'How do they know how to win games of football? So the game has to change a bit and that's one of the biggest challenges.'