Andrew Cavenagh Declares Rangers-Celtic Rivalry Among World’s Elite as He Outlines Ambitious Ibrox Vision
New Rangers chairman Andrew Cavenagh has confidently declared the famous Old Firm rivalry with Celtic as “top five in the world,” as he and vice-chairman Paraag Marathe begin their mission to restore Rangers to the top of Scottish football.
Cavenagh, a U.S.-based healthcare executive, officially took the reins after the consortium he leads saw their takeover ratified at a shareholder meeting in Glasgow. Shortly after, both he and Marathe addressed the media at Ibrox, vowing to invest £20 million into the club though they stopped short of confirming how much will go towards transfers.
While many wonder whether the budget is sufficient to close the gap to Celtic, especially given their regular Champions League windfall, Cavenagh insists he’s up for the challenge.
“We’ve been finishing second; we want to finish first,” he said. “We are one position away.”
Cavenagh emphasized that the fierce rivalry with Celtic is what makes football special, comparing it to other legendary global derbies like Boca Juniors vs. River Plate and Roma vs. Lazio. He assured supporters that his team is competitive and impatient for success, even if progress won’t be immediate.
“We wouldn’t be here if we didn’t believe winning was achievable,” he added.
The chairman’s connection to football runs deep he’s a lifelong fan, former college goalkeeper, and a veteran of multiple World Cups and European Championships. He recounted the moment he got the life changing call from Les Allan, a Hearts-supporting banker in California, about the opportunity at Rangers. It happened just before a New York Yankees game, and he jumped on the idea immediately.
“It was a lightning bolt moment,” he said. “From there, I was on the phone with Paraag within seconds.”
Reflecting on his first experiences as part of the club, Cavenagh recalled the electricity of the Old Firm match at Parkhead, where he said he picked up “a few new phrases and gestures,” but also described it as one of the greatest football experiences of his life.
“Walking into Ibrox, climbing the marble stairs, seeing the trophy room you instantly feel the weight of the club’s history,” he said. “You also feel the responsibility to shape its future.”
As he begins the journey, Cavenagh acknowledged the hard work ahead for new manager Russell Martin, who has just welcomed his players back for pre-season. There’s pressure to build a squad capable of competing domestically and in Europe.
When asked about the possibility of selling key players like Nico Raskin to fund reinforcements, Cavenagh responded:
“We won’t speak on individual cases, but player trading is part of any sustainable club model. Outside of the top five clubs in the world, players come and go—and that’s healthy for both the club and the players.”
Cavenagh’s words will resonate with fans hungry for success, but they’ll also want to see actions match the vision. His passion and understanding of Rangers’ rich tradition are encouraging, but the board’s ability to back the manager and strengthen the squad especially with Celtic ahead in so many areas—will determine if this rebuild truly signals a turning point.
