Rangers have announced plans to raise £16m in new capital through a share issue to fund investment in the men’s first-team squad.
Club chairman Andrew Cavenagh confirmed the offer will be supported by his consortium and existing shareholders.
The funds are strictly earmarked to support player acquisitions and address other operational needs at Ibrox.
Total investment from the current ownership group now stands at £36m since their takeover in the summer of 2025.
Restructured executive team
Cavenagh also revealed the Scottish Premiership side will not appoint a replacement for former sporting director Kevin Thelwell.
Thelwell was removed from his post in November alongside ex-chief executive Patrick Stewart.
“We do not plan to hire a sporting director. The executive team is committed to being smaller, nimbler, and more entrepreneurial,” Cavenagh explained.
“We want an executive team willing to get its fingernails dirty. We want fewer consulting firms and less bureaucracy.”
The club hierarchy is systematically reviewing all operations to improve efficiency and divert a greater share of resources to the pitch.
Balancing inflation and fan costs
Alongside the share issue, adult season ticket prices will rise by 6.5%.
Operational costs, including player wages, agent fees, and stadium security, are currently rising faster than the overall rate of inflation.
“If we are going to ask supporters to pay more for tickets, we have an obligation to spend those funds wisely,” Cavenagh noted.
The chairman insisted this is not the time to decrease the football budget, viewing revenue growth as essential to remaining competitive.
All shareholders will receive formal documentation regarding the resolutions, with a minimum buy-in set at 1,000 shares.
Old Firm disorder condemned
Cavenagh used his open letter to reiterate the club’s firm stance on the chaotic scenes that marred the recent Old Firm derby.
Supporters entered the field of play following a penalty shootout at Ibrox, leading to widespread condemnation.
“We continue to denounce the disorder, property damage, and especially those who denigrated the 66 souls lost in the Ibrox disaster,” he stated.
The Glasgow giants have pledged full support for an independent review and will collaborate with all relevant stakeholders.
In a separate development, Rangers are attempting to convene a summit of top-flight clubs to discuss the ongoing use of video assistant referees.
Manchester City continue to await the outcome of their 115 Premier League financial charges, with recent reports suggesting a final verdict could be delayed until the summer.
The reigning English champions strongly deny any wrongdoing regarding alleged breaches of the league’s financial regulations.
Speculation is mounting over potential penalties, with recent rumours suggesting the club could face a severe 60-point deduction if found guilty.
An independent commission is reviewing the complex case, which officially involves 115 charges spanning multiple seasons.
Conflicting timelines for final resolution
Reports regarding the announcement of a decision remain contradictory across the football media landscape.
Early indications suggested an outcome was expected around Easter, but revised timelines now point towards the summer months.
Conversely, sources close to the independent panel have reportedly stated that no official timeframe has been communicated to either party.
The prolonged delay has sparked widespread frustration, as the impending decision threatens to cast a shadow over the current domestic campaign.
Precedent set by recent financial cases
The legal team representing the Etihad outfit will be closely monitoring recent regulatory developments involving other top-flight clubs.
Chelsea were recently issued a £10m fine for illicit payments despite their new ownership voluntarily co-operating with European governing body Uefa.
It has been suggested that the London club’s situation could establish a legal precedent that benefits the Manchester side’s robust defence.
Former player criticises drawn-out process
Former club captain Richard Dunne has publicly condemned the authorities for the prolonged nature of the investigation.
The retired Republic of Ireland international believes the ongoing uncertainty severely undermines the integrity of the title race.
“It’s been ridiculous already, the amount of time that it’s dragged on,” Dunne said.
“They’ve come to a conclusion a long time ago, so why it’s taken so long to get around to giving out their results of what they found is stupid.”
“It just undermines the whole Premier League if they start coming out now at this stage of the season and you’ve got the opportunity of a real interesting title race.”
Arsenal are exploring a summer transfer for Paris St-Germain winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia as manager Mikel Arteta plots a significant overhaul of his attacking options.
The 25-year-old has been identified as a primary target to inject greater individual creativity into the squad at Emirates Stadium.
However, any potential deal for the Georgian international is expected to be highly complex, with the French club viewing him as an integral part of their ongoing project.
Financial rules dictate transfer reshuffle
It is understood that the North London side are willing to sanction the departure of established senior players at the end of the current campaign.
This strategy would provide necessary financial headroom as the Premier League transitions towards new Squad Cost Ratio regulations.
Such outgoing business would pave the way for a reshuffle, with the forward line requiring special attention following an intense domestic season.
Champions League pedigree
The former Napoli attacker has enjoyed a stellar European campaign this term, notably scoring three times against Chelsea during the Champions League last-16 stage.
Despite declaring his ambition to become a club legend during an interview last month, representatives for the player remain open to exploring alternative opportunities.
Sources close to the Qatari-owned club insist they will adopt a hardline stance, viewing their prized asset as practically unsellable just a year after securing his signature.
Alvarez remains out of reach
Arteta is also known to be a long-standing admirer of Atletico Madrid forward Julian Alvarez.
A move for the Argentine World Cup winner currently remains unlikely due to a prohibitive valuation of at least £86.5m set by the Spanish outfit.
Newcastle United are planning a major summer squad overhaul targeting a new striker and goalkeeper following a damaging week that severely dented their Champions League qualification hopes.
Manager Eddie Howe and sporting director Ross Wilson will oversee the shake-up at St James’ Park.
The Tyneside club could see as many as eight players depart at the end of the current campaign.
This drastic action comes after a disastrous few days where the Magpies were heavily beaten by Barcelona in Europe before suffering a home defeat to fierce local rivals Sunderland.
Search for new firepower
A new centre-forward is the primary objective despite the club spending £125m on Nick Woltemade and Yoane Wissa last year.
Wissa’s £55m arrival from Brentford has failed to deliver the expected impact, forcing the recruitment team back into the market.
The hierarchy are eager to rectify mistakes from a previous summer window that saw a staggering £250m outlay yield mixed results on the pitch.
Potential high-profile departures
While no stars have formally requested a transfer, the club are bracing for offers if they fail to secure elite European football.
Key figures such as Sandro Tonali, Anthony Gordon and Tino Livramento are expected to attract significant interest from rival sides.
Management are desperate to avoid a repeat of last summer’s disruptive saga, which saw Swedish forward Alexander Isak go on strike to force a move to Liverpool.
However, the North East outfit remain resolute that no player will be allowed to leave for below their premium market valuation.
Contract expirations and goalkeeping changes
Experienced defensive duo Kieran Trippier and Fabian Schar are both nearing the end of their current contracts.
Midfielder Joe Willock is also likely to be sold as he enters the final 12 months of his deal.
In goal, Aaron Ramsdale is expected to return to parent club Southampton when his season-long loan expires.
This departure will force the Magpies to hunt for a first-choice goalkeeper, having narrowly missed out on England international James Trafford to Manchester City last year.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport has confirmed an appeal from Senegal aimed at overturning the controversial decision by the Confederation of African Football to strip them of their Africa Cup of Nations title and award it to Morocco.
African football’s governing body announced the unprecedented ruling on 17 March, two months after the acrimonious conclusion to the continental tournament.
The West African nation were stripped of their championship and handed a retroactive 3-0 forfeit defeat for temporarily leaving the pitch in protest during the final.
Tournament hosts Morocco are subsequently recognised as the victors, ending a 49-year wait for their second African crown.
Arbitration panel to assess unprecedented dispute
Senegal’s legal team is seeking to have the strict forfeiture set aside to officially reinstate their hard-fought victory.
A spokesperson for the Senegalese government previously stated the administrative ruling directly contradicts the fundamental principles of sporting ethics.
An arbitral panel will now be appointed by the global sporting court to independently assess the highly unusual matter.
The Lions of Teranga have 20 days to file their comprehensive legal arguments, after which CAF will be granted an equal timeframe to submit a formal defence.
Matthieu Reeb, CAS director general, promised a swift but fair resolution to the escalating diplomatic and sporting crisis.
CAS is perfectly equipped to resolve this type of dispute, with the assistance of expert and independent arbitrators.
We understand that teams and fans are eager to know the final decision, and we will ensure that arbitration proceedings are conducted as swiftly as possible, while respecting the right of all parties to a fair hearing.
Walk-off drama and extra-time triumph
The original final on 18 January descended into chaos when the hosts were awarded a highly contentious stoppage-time penalty.
Infuriated by the officiating, the Senegalese players exited the field in protest and delayed the showpiece event for 17 minutes.
Veteran forward Sadio Mane eventually convinced his frustrated team-mates to return to the pitch to complete the match.
Upon the resumption of play, Moroccan playmaker Brahim Diaz missed the ensuing penalty as his attempted panenka was comfortably saved.
The fraught encounter proceeded to extra-time, where midfielder Pape Gueye secured a dramatic 1-0 victory for the protesting side.
Regulations dictate severe forfeiture penalty
Despite the on-pitch result, officials cited a severe breach of tournament protocols to justify the retroactive forfeiture.
According to article 82 of the competition regulations, any team that refuses to play or leaves the ground without authorisation is considered the loser and eliminated.
A subsequent clause mandates that violators of this rule permanently forfeit the match with a recorded 3-0 scoreline.
The Royal Moroccan Football Federation released a statement insisting their initial complaint to CAF had never been about challenging the sporting performances of the teams involved.
The New York Yankees have placed ace pitcher Gerrit Cole on the 15-day injured list ahead of their season opener against the San Francisco Giants, avoiding a significantly longer absence.
If the 35-year-old had been moved to the 60-day injured list, he would have been ineligible to pitch in a major league game until late May.
The veteran right-hander is continuing his rehabilitation after undergoing Tommy John surgery with renowned physician Dr Neal ElAttrache in March of last year.
He recently made two encouraging spring training starts, taking to the mound on 18 March and again this past Tuesday.
Rodon and Volpe begin season on sidelines
The Bronx Bombers also finalised several other crucial roster moves on Tuesday to comply with the strict 26-man active player limit.
Starting pitcher Carlos Rodon was placed on the 15-day injured list, retroactive to 22 March, as he continues his recovery from elbow surgery.
Meanwhile, highly rated shortstop Anthony Volpe begins the campaign on the 10-day injured list following left shoulder surgery last October.
Gil demoted while Grichuk secures major league deal
In a notable rotation shift, 2024 American League Rookie of the Year Luis Gil has been optioned to Triple-A affiliate Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
The talented Dominican is not immediately required in the major leagues as New York plans to utilise a four-man rotation through the early stages of the season due to scheduled rest days.
To finalise their squad depth, the franchise selected the contract of veteran outfielder Randal Grichuk from the minor leagues.
The 34-year-old has signed a one-year deal worth $2.5m (£1.97m) while in the majors, with an additional $1.5m (£1.18m) available through plate appearance performance bonuses.
The former Arizona and Kansas City player batted a disappointing .125 during spring training but provides valuable major league experience for the New York outfield.
The NBA’s Board of Governors has approved a vote to officially explore expansion franchises in Las Vegas and Seattle, targeting the 2028-29 season.
A formal bidding process will now commence to assess potential ownership applicants.
Offers for each new team are expected to reach unprecedented figures in the $7bn to $10bn (£5.5bn to £7.8bn) range.
This significant move marks the beginning of the league’s widely anticipated expansion to 32 teams.
Multiple high-ranking officials have previously termed the expansion process as “when, not if.”
Billion-dollar valuations expected
North America’s premier basketball competition will examine prospective bids over the coming months.
A final vote to formally establish the new sporting franchises could take place later this year.
For the historic additions to be ratified, 23 of the 30 current governors must vote in favour of the proposals.
Franchise values have surged recently, highlighted by the Los Angeles Lakers selling for a record $10bn in 2025.
A highly anticipated return to Seattle
The addition of a Seattle franchise would see top-tier basketball return to the city for the first time since 2008.
The much-loved SuperSonics departed for Oklahoma City over a stadium lease dispute 16 years ago.
Meanwhile, Las Vegas has rapidly established itself as a premier destination for major professional sports.
The Nevada city already successfully hosts the WNBA’s Aces, alongside the NFL’s Raiders and NHL’s Golden Knights.
Conference realignment on the horizon
Adding two new Western Conference teams will necessitate a structural reshuffle to maintain regional balance.
League executives expect either the Minnesota Timberwolves or Memphis Grizzlies to switch to the Eastern Conference.
This adjustment would ensure a perfectly even split of 16 teams across both geographical divisions.
The competition has remained at 30 teams since its last expansion in 2004, when Charlotte joined the ranks.
Unified heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk has cast doubt on a third fight with Tyson Fury, suggesting he could instead face mandatory challenger Agit Kabayel before retiring.
The Ukrainian star is scheduled to defend his world titles against kickboxing crossover Rico Verhoeven in May.
That upcoming bout represents his first ring appearance since a knockout victory over Daniel Dubois last summer.
Mandatory obligations complicate retirement plan
Earlier this month, the 38-year-old outlined a clear three-fight roadmap to conclude his illustrious career.
He initially targeted Verhoeven, the winner of an upcoming Fabio Wardley versus Dubois clash, and finally a third meeting with Fury.
However, boxing authorities are expected to order the undefeated southpaw to face German contender Kabayel following his May defence.
Speaking to the Daily Mail, the two-time undisputed champion admitted his schedule remains completely flexible.
Maybe I will fight Kabayel, maybe I don’t face Tyson Fury for a third time, and I fight Kabayel instead.
I only say my plan, but that is not set in stone.
Fury insists rival will demand trilogy
Usyk secured back-to-back decision victories over his British rival during 2024 to cement his historic legacy.
Despite those definitive results, the outspoken heavyweight maintains he was unfairly treated by the judges on both occasions.
The former WBC titleholder, who returns to action against Arslanbek Makhmudov next month, believes financial motivations will eventually force a third encounter.
He’ll be begging for a trilogy by the end of the year.
There’s no one for him to fight to make any money. There’s only the GK, the big man.