STEVEN NAISMITH hopes Rangers get rid of boardroom “self-interest” when their US takeover is sealed.
The Ibrox club are close to finalising talks with San Francisco 49ers chief Paraag Marathe and health insurance tycoon Andrew Cavenagh.
Excitement swept over Rangers fans when news of the potential takeover emerged[/caption]
Steven Naismith says the investment is good, but it’s sad his old club lag so far behind Celtic[/caption]
It’s believed an agreement in principle has been reached which could see a deal completed by the end of the season. And former Gers striker Naisy is desperate to see a fresh approach at his old club.
He said: “It’s sad they are so far back and so far behind Celtic, in terms of recruitment, style and the quality of the squad, to the trophies they have won.
“It’s a combination of years of terrible decisions on recruitment and people who are ‘Rangers men’ saying, ‘We are going to do this or that’.
“Looking back, they have not done the best for the club. They have done the best for the club, which suits themselves.
“And that’s been from managers to further up the food chain.
“That’s why Rangers is so far back, that’s why they have lost so much money over the years. That’s the problem.
“It needs to have real people who want the best for the club and not their self-interest.
“The proof is in the pudding. The squad is not where it needs to be, the recruitment’s not where it needs to be, and they are a bit away from their biggest rivals.”
Rangers have yet to confirm publicly a takeover is close to being done.
But it’s believed Leeds United chairman Marathe, who is 49ers Enterprises president, and Cavenagh are now doing their final checks after striking an agreement in principle.
Naismith, who quit to join Everton for free when Gers went into administration in 2012, hopes the new investment leads to a brighter future.
But he insists big money counts for NOTHING unless the right people are in charge.
Naisy added: “For me, it is the only short-term way of narrowing the gap massively.
“The new investment is brilliant. But when Rangers became debt free and had big investment, £70million gets spent, and this is where they are at.
Andrew Cavenagh was spotted at Ibrox earlier in January with ex-Gers chairman John Gilligan[/caption]
Ex-Hearts boss Naismith was promoting Premier Sports’ Scottish Cup coverage[/caption]
“It’s so important the next decisions are good ones. Because if they are not, they are going to be in the same position five years down the line. It’s the right people.
“You also must add to that there’s never been a time in football when time is so valuable, but it’s never given. So there has to be that element.
“Look at Bournemouth at the start of last season, or when they replaced their manager and he doesn’t win for nine games, he’s rubbish.
“It shows a real quality of leadership that they stuck by him. Look at them now, they are flying.
“You need to have the right people managing and guiding the club — and that’s what I go back to.
“In the past has that been the right case? Probably not.”
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