San Francisco 49ers chief Paraag Marathe insists Rangers will not become a feeder club to Leeds United after the American takeover goes through at the Ibrox club.
President of 49ers Enterprises, Marathe is a key figure in the talks which are set to see a US-based consortium purchase a controlling stake at Rangers.
A widely respected and influential figure in the NFL with the Niners, Marathe also serves as the chairman of Leeds United after completing a similar takeover at Elland Road in 2023.
That had prompted concerns among some Rangers fans that they may be used essentially as a feeder club to the Yorkshire side.
However, Marathe has moved to ease those worries, insisting that every sports club must stand alone as its own organisation.
‘I can’t really comment on whatever rumours might be out there,’ he said. ‘But we are looking at other opportunities.
Americans are looking to complete takeover at Rangers before end of the season
Paraag Marathe, who is leading the talks, claims Rangers will not become feeder club for Leeds
Leeds United are on top of English Championship and looking to return to Premier League
‘It is doable to replicate the passion (of Leeds). What we are looking for is clubs with the right bones, history of success and potential for growth.
‘And if you are a sports person, and you live it and treat it as a way of life like I do, then absolutely there is enough room in your heart to love all your sports properties, just like there is to love all of your children!
‘We always have our eyes and ears open and look at other opportunities. Leeds United stands alone, if we were to look at another club that would stand alone.
‘What you can share and do on the sporting side, we haven’t looked at one club as a feeder club.’
It could well be that the US investors will look to appoint their own manager in the summer as and when any deal is completed.
Ibrox will be a key factor if Rangers are to become bigger and better after takeover
For as much as Rangers supporters would love the club’s imminent takeover to bring about instant success, the truth is that their ambitions will not be fulfilled overnight.
These days, UEFA’s financial fair play rules ensure that, no matter how much money a club has behind it, the growth has to be measured, sustainable and never greater than it can afford.
In short, to make Rangers bigger and better, the US consortium expected to take charge in the summer will have to increase the revenue, which usually means expanding the size of the stadium.
That’s why Newcastle United, for all their Saudi riches, are looking at redeveloping or maybe even leaving St James’ Park so that the Premiership club can be taken to another level.
And it’s why Paraag Marathe, the businessman who is leading the group of Rangers investors, has embraced stadium redevelopment in his other roles with Leeds United and San Francisco 49ers.
He oversaw the development of the 49ers’ Levi’s Stadium, a stunning $1.3billion venue that has hosted the Super Bowl. And, as chairman of Leeds United, he has announced plans to increase Elland Road’s capacity by more than 15,000.
San Francisco 49ers Levi’s Stadium was part of a stunning $1.3bn development
Paraag Marathe admires the 49ers’ stadium which he helped to develop
Ibrox could be set for massive changes under the new American ownership at Rangers
You can bet he will be looking at Ibrox and asking, as plenty have before him, whether matching Celtic and becoming a force in Europe is really possible with a capacity of 51,700?
Celtic Park accommodates more than 60,000, as do most of the big arenas in England. Manchester City’s Etihad Stadium is currently undergoing its second major expansion since it was opened only 23 years ago.
In a Leeds United podcast, Marathe recalled his work with the 49ers and explained why stadium development is crucial if a club’s ambitions are to be fulfilled, on and off the pitch.
He said: ‘The name of the game for any sports team is to have yourself a sustainable stadium or arena that you can play in that generates enough that you can support the team you want, a competitive team on the field.
‘And that was all of our focus, you know, for seven or eight years that I was COO of the team itself. That’s all our focus was: figuring out where to get, build a stadium, how to build it, how to finance it, how to sell it, all of that.
‘And, yeah, we did transition from a $3bn lemonade stand to more of a sports entertainment company.’
At Rangers, there has been talk in the past of lowering the pitch, relocating the screens and otherwise trying to tinker with Ibrox in such a way that it could house more season-ticket holders.
If his past endeavours are anything to go by, Marathe’s plans are likely to be rather more ambitious.
Rangers’ reputation as a club where managers were afforded patience and time is long gone
Nothing illustrates a club which is in a constant state of flux more than an endless churn of managers.
Once an institution which prided itself on its loyalty to its bosses, Rangers are now rattling through them at a truly extraordinary rate.
Consider this. In the first 68 years of the Ibrox club’s history, there were only three men in charge.
William Winton was there from 1899 to 1920, Bill Struth took charge for an incredible 34 years until 1954, with Scot Symon the manager up until 1967. That makes the average tenure in the early days around just short of 23 years.
Since the ill-fated moment that David Murray sold the club for a pound to Craig Whyte in 2011, jackets have been hung on the shakiest of nails.
Bill Struth’s stewardship of Rangers lasted an incredible 34 years until 1954
Philippe Clement was given only 16 months as Rangers manager before being sacked
Steven Gerrard lasted the pace at Ibrox, clocking up three seasons and four months in charge
Interim boss Barry Ferguson is now holding the fort until the end of the current season
Ally McCoist managed a solid three-and-a-half years. Interims Kenny McDowall and Stuart McCall held the fort for three months each.
Next in was Mark Warburton at 20 months, Graeme Murty (first spell) one month, Pedro Caixinha, eight months, Murty (again) seven months with Jimmy Nicholl’s three-game interim spell lasting only a fortnight.
Steven Gerrard lasted the pace – clocking up three seasons and four months before leaving for Aston Villa.
Giovanni van Bronckhorst only just made it to a year, Michael Beale didn’t quite get that far and Philippe Clement managed 17 months.
Including interims then, Barry Ferguson is the 12th occupant of the dug-out in less than 14 years.
It’s not quite peak Jesus Gil at Atletico Madrid (he had 39 managers in 16 years). But Ibrox’s reputation as a place where managers were afforded patience and time has long gone.
Potter extremely proud to see so many of her players on international duty
It’s always a good sign when training is deserted during an international break. Jo Potter is proud that so many of her Rangers players are away representing their countries right now.
No fewer than 10 of her squad are off on international duty, either at full or age-group level, which perhaps underlines how well Rangers have been playing, especially on a run of six straight wins since the turn of the year.
Potter believes more of her squad deserve recognition at that level, but it has been good news for Chelsea Cornet, Leah Eddie, Kirsty Maclean and Mia McAulay, who are all with Scotland.
While Jenna Fife and Nicola Docherty were among nine players from the last Scotland squad who missed out on this occasion, plenty of their Rangers team-mates are enjoying the opportunity to face foreign opposition.
Rangers boss Jo Potter has no fewer than 10 of her players away on international duty
Kirsty MacLean and Mia McAulay are now team-mates for both Rangers and Scotland
Leah Eddie is another who is turning out for Rangers and for the Scottish national team
Laura Rafferty has been representing Northern Ireland, Telma Ivarsdottir is with Iceland and Vic Esson is in Costa Rica, playing for New Zealand. By all accounts, the experienced goalkeeper was outstanding during a 1-1 draw in San Jose last Saturday.
A former England international herself, Potter believes that the experience will be good for her players and, by turn, Rangers as they gear up for the closing stages of a title race in which they are among four teams at the top of the table.
‘The players have done superb to earn these call-ups,’ said Potter. ‘We are devastated that a few more aren’t in that squad too because we feel like our players have been performing exceptionally well.
‘We will be doing our best to get those players back in that squad. We want as many players away as possible representing their countries.’
Potter believes the break will be a boost for her players ahead of an exciting domestic run-in, provided none of them returns with an injury.
‘I know myself how important those international breaks are and how it can kick you on to another level. Hopefully they come back injury-free. We have a big split coming up and we want everyone fit, fighting and raring to go.’
