Unmistakable Rangers takeover figure uncovered – Gretar Steinsson will ruffle feathers and deliver on long-running bugbear
The 43-year-old appears to be a key figure alongside Andrew Cavenagh as the American edges closer to taking control at Ibrox
So far he’s the silent – yet unmistakable – figure who seems to be at the heart of a Rangers takeover.
In every snapshot of US billionaire Andrew Cavenagh, the club’s potential new owner, he’s there in the background.
Whether it was at Celtic Park for Gers’ recent Old Firm victory or in Govan for the big European nights against Fenerbahce and Athletic Bilbao, the American was flanked by a bald-headed Icelander.
But who is Gretar Steinsson?
The former Bolton Wanderers right-back is becoming increasingly familiar with the marble staircase at Ibrox.
And soon enough, assuming Cavenagh, Paraag Marathe and the 49ers Enterprises’ bid to buy Rangers goes through, Steinsson looks certain to have a major role to play in the club’s future.
The 43-year-old is used to working with big institutions.
Since hanging up his boots, he has worked for Everton as their head of recruitment, Spurs as performance director and Leeds United as technical director alongside Marathe.
Now Steinsson appears to be a key figure alongside Cavenagh as the American edges closer to taking control at Ibrox.
Whether the Icelander will leave Elland Road to run Rangers’ football department remains to be seen.
Or could he be the man to identify Philippe Clement’s permanent replacement as gaffer, despite Barry Ferguson’s stint as interim boss?
Either way, Steinsson hasn’t been a regular in Glasgow over the last few months for the good of his health.
And according to a former Gers player who has already worked with him, taking the reins at Ibrox WON’T faze him.
Steinsson’s first non-playing gig in British football was with Fleetwood Town back in 2015 – and he wasn’t afraid to make an impact.
It’s widely believed that two former Town bosses – ex-Rangers stars Joey Barton and Steven Pressley – both left the club as a result of his arrival at the Highbury Stadium.
In the background, coach Barry Nicholson watched it unfold and had direct dealings with Steinsson.
At Fleetwood, he wasn’t worried about making unpopular decisions to get things done.
And that’s why Nicholson believes he won’t be overawed by potentially ruffling a few feathers at Rangers.
He told MailSport: “One thing about Gretar is, he wouldn’t be fazed going in to work at a club like Rangers. I think he was like that as well as a player, tough and uncompromising.
“I actually remember playing against him down here when he was at Bolton. At Fleetwood, he wasn’t shy of making big decisions.
“In that type of role, you’ve got to be like that and he certainly was during that time. It might upset people but that won’t bother him.
“He’d go into Rangers with big ideas and I don’t think he’ll be frightened to rock the boat a bit. He won’t be scared of making big calls.
“He will definitely be no-nonsense. Gretar has worked with some top managers already, at Fleetwood firstly then obviously in his time at Everton, Spurs and Leeds.
“I imagine that he’ll be good at presenting in front of people with his ideas and vision. That’s what owners want, especially the Americans.”
Nicholson has watched with interest as Steinsson has regularly been photographed in Scotland ahead of the proposed £100million Rangers takeover.
Negotiations are ongoing as 49ers Enterprises look to purchase a 51 per cent stake in the club, with Cavenagh at the forefront. What Steinsson’s role might be is still unclear. But Nicholson is convinced that, if he gets the keys to Auchenhowie, producing talented youngsters will be one of his key objectives.
The 46-year-old, who started his playing career at Ibrox, said: “Gretar is very big on working in the club’s academy.
“He wants good young players at the club. At Fleetwood the academy was only just up and running when he arrived.
“But he was huge in getting it up to the required standard and through the grading system in England. He had a massive part in that.
“And eventually at Fleetwood, there was a big push for academy players to play in the first team. A few of them have gone on to do well. James Hill was sold to Bournemouth for £1m.
“Josh Feeney went to Aston Villa and Jay Matete went to Sunderland. So in the last few years Fleetwood have seen the fruits of it and made a bit of money from transfers.
“If Gretar is going to have anything to do with that side of things at Rangers, that will be his aim. Whether you get on with him or not, he’s the type of guy who knows what he wants. He’s not afraid to make a difference.
“Since Fleetwood, he has been employed by some massive clubs and held important positions. And it sounds like the consortium who are looking to take over Rangers have identified him as the guy to lead the football side of things.
“He’d be someone who would certainly go in with big plans. And I think Rangers have been crying out for that.
“There aren’t enough young boys coming through at Rangers and that has to change.
“There should be a conveyor belt of talent – or certainly more than there has been recently at Ibrox.
“Rangers have to get these young players into the team and then make the club money. Or make them mainstays in the team like the current manager Barry was.
“Rangers have said for years now, that’s the model they want to have.
“It’s tough. But if Gretar has been hands-on with that stuff at his previous clubs, he could be a good addition for the club.”
And it isn’t just the playing side that Steinsson is interested in.
He has already met stand-in gaffer Ferguson in the last few weeks and will surely be involved in the process of appointing Rangers’ new manager this summer.
Whoever that may be, Nicholson expects the Icelander to work closely with them.
He said: “Gretar is also big on actually improving the staff at a club. He didn’t just want them to improve players at Fleetwood.
“He wanted staff to improve themselves for the benefit of the club.
"He really pushed them on that and I would expect him to do the same wherever he is.”