The secret lunch that sparked the Rangers takeover and united one time saviour with new king of Ibrox
Paul Murray explains why he knew Andrew Cavenagh was right for Rangers | Hotline Live
Paul Murray has revealed how he knew Andrew Cavenagh would become the new king of Ibrox after one lunch together in London.
Former Rangers chairman Murray has spoken for the first time about his role in facilitating the transformational American takeover which has seen Cavenagh and the San Francisco 49ers take control of the Glasgow club.
As part of a fascinating exclusive interview with our agenda setting online show Hotline Live, Murray has told how he flew south to meet with the health insurance tycoon in November last year to begin exploratory discussions about a possible multi-million pound deal.
How he left that meeting convinced that Cavenagh and his consortium, including 49ers chief Paraag Marathe, were the right men to take control.
And how he immediately set-up the negotiations with Dave King which led to Cavenagh's buyout.
Murray said: 'If you spend some time with him you realise he's a serious guy. After I had met him for the first time, for lunch, I messaged him on my way back to the airport.just saying, 'I think you and your colleagues would be great owners for the club'.
'I just kind of felt it. Having met tons of people over the years who came forward you just knew this was a different sort of animal.
'I've got an expression about 'proper people'. And what you're dealing with here is a proper guy. I don't know Paraag just as well but I think he's the same. That was my sense after the first meeting.
'So I introduced him to Dave who was the single largest shareholder and after some meetings and calls it became clear that Andrew and his colleagues wanted to get control of the club, 51 per cent, which they wouldn't get just by buying Dave's shares.
'At that point I then introduced Andrew to the club. He had to speak to the board and the other shareholders to try to piece together the deal.
'It was quite a complicated deal and that's why it took the best part of seven months to get from that initial meeting in London to the completion of the deal.'
Record Sport broke the news of Cavenagh's plans in February this year.
In May the deal to snap up a 51 per cent stake was concluded with Cavenagh appointed chairman and Marathe installed as his right hand man.
And Murray is now urging the Rangers supporters to give their American owners time to get to grips with the task of turning their club around.
He said: 'You've heard him speaking. He's quite a measured and considered guy, which I quite like.
'I've only met him a few times but in the dealings I've had with him, which were quite a few, I think he's a considered, measured guy who has obviously been very successful in business.
'He's not going to be prone to hyperbole. The danger in football is you get prone to the hyperbole, 'We're going to spend £100m and win the Champions League in 10 minutes'.
'I think we've got to be realistic and let these guys take their time, look at the situation and let them build it going forward.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
ITV News
7 minutes ago
- ITV News
US and EU agree trade deal, says Donald Trump
The United States and the European Union have reached a trade deal, Donald Trump has said. It follows a brief meeting between the US president and European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen in Scotland on Sunday. A White House deadline was days away for imposing punishing import taxes on the 27-member EU, which is America's leading global trading partner. Instead, the US will impose 15% tariffs on EU goods entering America, after Trump had threatened a 30% levy. 'It was a very interesting negotiation. I think it's going to be great for both parties,' Trump said. The make-or-break talks were meant to head off trade penalties - and promised retaliation from Europe - that could have sent shockwaves through economies around the world. Trump and von der Leyen held private talks at one of Trump's golf courses in Scotland, then emerged a short time later saying they had reached an 'across the board' agreement. In remarks before the session, Trump pledged to change what he characterised as 'a very one-sided transaction, very unfair to the United States.' 'I think the main sticking point is fairness,' he said while also noting, 'We've had a hard time with trade with Europe, a very hard time.' Von der Leyen had said the US and EU combined have the world's largest trade volume, encompassing hundreds of millions of people and trillions of dollars. Trump said the stakes involved meant of making a deal, 'We should give it a shot.' Von der Leyen said Trump was 'known as a tough negotiator and dealmaker', which caused the president to interject with 'but fair." She said that, if they are successful, 'I think it would be the biggest deal each of us has ever struck.' Their meeting came after Trump played golf for the second straight day at his Turnberry course, this time with a group that included sons Eric and Donald Jr. The president's five-day visit to Scotland is built around golf and promoting properties bearing his name. A small group of protesters at the course waved American flags and raised a sign criticising British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who plans his own Turnberry meeting with Trump on Monday. Other voices could be heard cheering and chanting 'Trump! Trump!' as he played Tuesday, Trump will be in Aberdeen, in northeastern Scotland, where his family has another golf course and is opening a third next month. The president and his sons plan to help cut the ribbon on the new course.
Scottish Sun
7 minutes ago
- Scottish Sun
Donald Trump launches scathing rant about windmills during EU trade talks
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) DONALD Trump launched a scathing rant about windmills before announcing a trade deal with the European Union this evening. The US President, 79, struck the 'biggest of all deals' following meetings with the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, at Turnberry, in Ayrshire. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 President Donald Trump called wind energy a 'con job' Credit: AP 3 He went on a scathing rant about windmills and said they were 'no good' Credit: Alamy 3 It came before he announced a trade deal with the EU Credit: Getty Ms von der Leyen confirmed there would be US tariffs on goods from Europe of 15 per cent across the board. Speaking to reporters at his luxury golf resort, Mr Trump said: "We have reached a deal. It's a good deal for everybody. "It's going to bring us closer together... It's a partnership in a sense." He added: "It's great that we made a deal instead of playing games". EU chief Ursula von der Leyen also hailed it as a "huge deal", which came after "tough negotiations". However, ahead of the trade talks, the Republican chief went on a scathing rant about windmills and vowed not to let another one be built in the US. We will not allow a windmill to be built in the US. They're killing us. They're killing the beauty of our scenery, our valleys, our beautiful planes President Donald Trump At a press conference with Ms von der Leyen, he called them a "con job" and said "wind doesn't work". The American leader said: "We will not allow a windmill to be built in the US. They're killing us. "They're killing the beauty of our scenery, our valleys, our beautiful planes - and I'm not talking about aeroplanes, I'm talking about beautiful planes, beautiful areas in the US - and you look up and you see windmills all over the place. "It's a horrible thing, it's the most expensive form of energy. It's no good. Trump and EU chief von der Leyen discuss trade talks ahead of breakthrough deal "They're made in China, almost all of them, and when they start to rust and rot in eight years, you can't really turn them off, you can't bury them. "They won't let you bury the propellers, the props, because they are a certain type of fibre that doesn't go well with the land, that's what they say. "The environmentalists say you can't bury them because the fibre doesn't go well with the land. In other words, if you bury it, it will harm our soil. "The whole thing is a con job - it's very expensive, and in all fairness, Germany tried it, and wind doesn't work. "You need subsidy for wind, and energy should not need subsidy. With energy, you make money; you don't lose money." Mr Trump also claimed that windmills harm animals and said they were "very expensive". It's a horrible thing, it's the most expensive form of energy. It's no good... The whole thing is a con job... wind doesn't work President Donald Trump The US has around 1,500 wind power projects with over 70,800 wind turbines, spread across a total of 44 states, according to Inspire Clean Energy. But Mr Trump slammed them for ruining the landscape and claimed that several projects in Massachusetts are causing the death of whales in the surrounding area by "driving them loco". He added: "More importantly than that is it ruins the landscape, it kills the birds, they're noisy. "You know, you have a certain place in the Massachusetts area that over the last 20 years had one or two whales wash ashore. "And over the last short period of time, they had 18, ok, cause it's driving them loco. It's driving them crazy. "Now windmills will not come, it's not going to happen in the US. It's very expensive." 'Festival of resistance' A "FESTIVAL of resistance The protest at The White Horse Inn, Balmedie, Aberdeen, is close to the Trump International Scotland golf resort. And organisers said they object to it receiving £180,000 of public funding for the Nexo Championship next month. Organiser of Stop Trump Scotland, Alena Ivanova, said: "As Donald Trump is expected to arrive at his Aberdeenshire golf course, residents and protesters are gathering in Balmedie from 3pm to continue the festival of resistance. "This message is to Donald Trump but also our elected leaders preparing to meet him: there is no place for Trumpism in Scotland." Mr Trump went on to say that they are ruining the views at his luxury Turnberry course, which he called "the best course in the world". The US President said: "I mean, today, I'm playing the best course I think in the world, Turnberry - even though I own it, it's probably the best course in the world, right - and I look over the horizon and I see nine windmills right at the end of the 18th hole. "And I said, 'Isn't that a shame? What a shame.' "You have the same thing all over, all over Europe in particular. You have windmills all over the place. "Some of the countries prohibit it, but... people ought to know, these windmills are very destructive. "They're environmentally- just the exact opposite, because the environmentalists, they're not really environmentalists, they're political hacks. "These are people that... they almost want to harm the country. I'm playing the best course I think in the world, Turnberry... and I look over the horizon and I see nine windmills. And I said, 'Isn't that a shame?' President Donald Trump "But you look at these beautiful landscapes all over the world... many countries have gotten smart and they will not allow it. They will not. "It is the worst form of energy, the most expensive form of energy, but windmills should not be allowed." It comes before the American leader is set to be pushed by Sir Keir Starmer on how to end the starvation of kids in Gaza. Earlier today, Mr Trump teed off on his second round in Turnberry after landing on Friday night, accompanied by a massive security team. Meanwhile, anti-Trump rallies across Scotland were mounted in Aberdeen and Edinburgh on Saturday as the American leader enjoyed a round of golf at his luxury Ayrshire resort. The US President landed in Scotland in a party mood after revealing his plans for a trade deal celebration with the Prime Minister and First Minister John Swinney. Mr Trump said: "We're going to do a little celebrating because we get along very well." He was welcomed by Scottish Secretary Ian Murray before being whisked to his luxury Turnberry resort 20 miles down the Ayrshire coast.
Daily Record
36 minutes ago
- Daily Record
Robin Propper on the Rangers dressing room 'difference' that he instantly found after Twente return
The Dutch defender now appreciates what new signings from abroad must feel when they arrive in the Netherlands Robin Propper has hinted that the Rangers dressing didn't have the team spirit he was expecting and now knows exactly how foreign imports feel when arriving in Holland. The Dutchman lasted a year at Ibrox before returning to the Netherlands and his previous club this week. The centre back won't go down as one of the better pieces of business done by the Glasgow giants after Philippe Clement drafted him in last August. He was given a run out during pre-season by Russell Martin but the writing was on the wall after the new boss signed Nasser Djiga and Emmanuel Fernandez to play in the same position, and an offer was accepted from Twente. And he seemed to suggest that the Gers dressing room wasn't exactly big on ensuring new faces from overseas were fully integrated, and it's made him appreciate the team spirit that exists in Enschede. "It was an eye-opener for me," Propper told the club's YouTube channel. "I wasn't aware of how foreign boys feel when they come to the Netherlands (before Rangers). I think they need attention and time. "You have to be constantly involved within the team. I have noticed that abroad it is different. "The team spirit here at Twente is so strong. That has been a huge strength at Twente. I realise now that it has to be kept in check. You have to invest in that. "You have to involve all the boys. That is one thing I want to take with me to the future." Propper's exit dragged on as he negotiated with Rangers over the terms of his departure with a year still left on his deal. But he insisted he enjoyed "beautiful moments' in light blue and is glad he had his year in Govan. Propper added: 'It was a long wait. I wanted to know how it would go with Rangers. A lot happened there and I wanted to see how it went. 'I did pre-season and I played matches there. I don't think I missed much in terms of fitness 'Of course I want to say that I had a great adventure at a beautiful club with a rich history. I always wanted that in my career. I think I want to look at a different mirror after a while. 'I can say that I have done that now. It felt really good to come back to the club where I really wanted to be - where I felt at home. The first two days I immediately felt the feeling. 'In a year you experience a lot. I have noticed that now. In a foreign country, certain things are different. I'm glad that I was able to experience that. 'I played a lot of games. I had a lot of beautiful moments. Also a little less. In a year like this you experience so many things. 'You have to experience that in your career. The way you deal with other people, you learn from that. I am very happy that I was able to do that."
