Rangers takeover involving San Francisco 49ers could be completed by June

He has been described by a source familiar with the negotiations as “front and centre”, but there is an as-yet-unnamed investor who is said to be as influential in the deal as Marathe.

It is understood that Dave King, the largest individual shareholder in the club, is supportive of the takeover.

The South Africa-based businessman spoke last year about how he believed “investor fatigue” had set in at the Scottish Premiership club.

While other members of the board have not seen eye to eye with King on many issues in the recent past, there appears to be general agreement on the need for new energy and new money at the club.

The current Rangers board see Marathe and his team as “serious people” who have a track record in reviving underperforming sporting institutions, which is how they see Rangers in a changing footballing landscape.

Conversations about selling Rangers have been happening in private since the second half of 2023.

Since that point, there has been a growing acceptance at the club by those in charge that they were “running out of road” in terms of energy and finance.