US President Donald Trump reportedly took a ‘serious look’ at buying Rangers, but ultimately decided to back out a deal.
The Scottish Premier League side were in financial meltdown back in 2012 and were forced to enter administration.
The club’s financial situation ultimately led to liquidation, before the starting again in the third tier of Scottish football.
Trump, prior to embarking on his political career, was reportedly interested in coming to Rangers rescue at the time.
The businessman was claimed to have been interested in the Scottish giants, before walking away from a deal after examining the club’s financial sitation.
‘We looked seriously and walked away,’ a Trump source said at the time.
US President Donald Trump reportedly came close to buying Rangers back in 2012
Trump had looked at recusing the financially stricken side before walking away from a deal
‘It just did not make sense to us, although they are a great club. We hope someone steps in and builds the team again.’
A lawyer for the Trump Organisation at the time had noted interest in business opportunities in Scotland at the time.
‘We are committed to Scotland for the long term, and will always be evaluating opportunities to support our business and the interests of Scotland,’ the organisation said.
Trump has Scottish roots through his mother, Mary Anne MacLeod, and the same year was about to open his first golf course in the country.
Trump International Golf Links Scotland – which operates north of Aberdeen after being built from scratch on until then protected sand dunes – was opened in 2012.
He also bought Trump purchased Turnberry from a Dubai-based company for £46million back in 2014, before renaming it ‘Trump Turnberry’ and extensively refurbishing it.
Trump had previously revealed he had been approached about investing into football clubs.
‘Stranger things have happened,’ Trump said in 2010.
Ally McCoist, Rangers manager at the time, admitted he heard rumours of a Trump takeover
Trump last week signed an executive order to established a World Cup task force
‘People have spoken to me about it, so we will see.’
Rangers legend Ally McCoist, who was manager back in 2012, confirmed he had heard reports of Trump’s potential interest in the club.
‘I was aware of the rumours, I think my first sit-down board meeting would have been interesting,’ McCoist told FourFourTwo.
‘The one thing I would say about Trump – we can argue about his politics, we’ll probably agree on what we think about his politics and we can discuss it until the cows come home – but he knows how to run a golf course, I can tell you that.
‘So forget everything else, if it’s any dealings in sport, his two golf courses north of the border, Turnberry and Trump International in Aberdeen, are nothing short of magnificent, they really are.’
Trump, who had briefly owned American football franchise the New Jersey Generals in the 1980s, last week met FIFA president Gianni Infantino as preparations continue for next year’s World Cup.
The US president signed an executive order on security for the tournament, which the United States are co-hosting with Canada and Mexico.
