Paraag Marathe, the Leeds chairman who has been a key figure at the San Francisco 49ers for over 20 years, is confident that Rangers will gain significant "global gravitas" from their recent partnership with the NFL giants.
Earlier this month, Rangers announced a takeover by an American consortium led by healthcare tycoon Andrew Cavenagh and 49ers Enterprises, the investment branch of the NFL's San Francisco 49ers.
Now serving as vice-chairman of Rangers, Marathe expressed his enthusiasm for the future prospects of the Glasgow club under its new American influence.
Speaking to the Scottish press for the first time, Marathe highlighted the global recognition of the 49ers and how it could elevate Rangers' profile: "I think it is pretty objectively true that the San Francisco 49ers are one of the biggest sports brands in the world, and certainly one of the most recognisable."
He continued: "Rangers is a gem of European football, and what the 49ers can bring is a certain global gravitas and awareness to Rangers."
Marathe elaborated on the potential benefits of the collaboration, particularly in terms of commercial partnerships: "Now, take the States or other places where the 49ers are top of mind, now all of a sudden Rangers are in that same sentence. Why does that matter? It matters when we are out with commercial partners who care about how many times they are going to be mentioned, how many times their name will come up. That has monetary value."
United chairman Marathe said: "It has helped us with Leeds. In terms of one not being subordinate to the other, selfishly speaking, it actually helps the 49ers too, bringing it more into the conversation globally and bringing that awareness."
He added: "I know from my experience at Leeds and I am already seeing some of the early returns, it matters to players that we are out recruiting. 'Oh, wait a second, the 49ers are involved in this'. This must mean that there is a certain extra gravitas that comes to it that helps us in the recruitment of players."
Marathe rejected the idea that Rangers would be treated as inferior to Leeds United, who are newly promoted to the Premier League.
He said: "I will do whatever I need to do to keep me on the winning side of the ledger at any club. That is all I care about.
"It would be a disservice to Leeds and Rangers to consider one a feeder club to the other. Consider them both closed-loop universes that deserve proper attention and nurture and care – we will designate and assign resources appropriately.
"But it's obvious that there are opportunities to learn from each other, whether it's commercially or competitively on the pitch.
"In my mind it's a real positive to have two clubs like that, but there's not one that is subordinate to the other. That would be a disservice."
Marathe has dismissed worries about Rangers and Leeds qualifying for the same European competition, referencing Crystal Palace's previous dilemma when their Europa League place was uncertain due to American owner John Textor – who also had shares in Lyon – owning stakes in both clubs.
"We have checked the box with those that we need to to make sure that if and when there was ever even a situation where there was even the perception of a conflict, we would solve that," Marathe assured. "That has already been solved, so we are good there."
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