Paraag Marathe Leeds United Rangers
(Credit: Imago)
MOT Leeds News speaking to Ian Darke
Sat 22 March 2025 17:40, UK
Leeds United are desperately attempting to break the barrier once again and become an established Premier League club.
A worrying trend has emerged in the past two years for Championship clubs whereby the three promoted sides are dropping back into the second tier.
Under the financial backbone of Paraag Marathe and the 49ers Enterprises regime, Leeds will want to return to the top flight this season and ensure they stay where they feel they belong.
Leeds United manager Daniel Farke
Daniel Farke has his side top of the Championship with eight games to play (Credit: Imago)
Leeds owners on course to take control of Rangers
In a world where multi-club ownership and global sporting empires are becoming commonplace, 49ers Enterprises – led by Marathe – have joined forces with health insurance tycoon Andrew Cavenagh to take a 51 per cent controlling stake in Rangers.
The deal is not quite finalised yet, due to the requirement for several more current investors in the Glasgow giants to sell their respective shareholdings.
MORE LEEDS STORIES
Television commentator Ian Darke had previously explained that a potential link-up between Leeds and Rangers could benefit the Whites.
Now, the broadcaster and football analysis expert has had his say on the potential internal competition which could arise between the 49ers’ two footballing business interests.
“The priorities of 49ers Enterprises – should they complete their takeover of Rangers – will probably depend on where Leeds United are next season, I would argue,” Darke exclusively told MOT Leeds News.
“A place in the Premier League – even if fans would be cross with me – is at least as important as Rangers being in Europe. The welfare of Leeds and keeping them in the Premier League as a force again would be huge.
“I can’t believe that the prospect of doing that could ever fall down the list of priorities, regardless of Rangers competing in Europe.
“Maybe if Leeds stay down this season then an immediate priority could shift to getting Rangers back on a level playing field with Celtic, but why would you take on a club as big as Leeds and then underfund the operation? It wouldn’t make sense to me.”
Marathe leads the financial arm of NFL titans San Francisco 49ers (Credit: Imago)
Leeds on course for Premier League as Rangers in Europa League quarters
Should Marathe and his fellow consortium members emerge successful from their lengthy talks at Rangers, their footballing arm would become extremely muscular.
Leeds and Rangers are two of the most widely supported clubs across the UK, even if the pair are not currently at the height of their successful eras.
49ers Enterprises – football ownership Stake
Leeds United 100%
Rangers* 51%*
(*yet to be finalised)
Rangers have had a paltry domestic season by their standards but remain in the last eight of the Europa League, and finish highly enough for the Champions League qualifiers via the Scottish Premiership every season without fail.
Should Farke and Leeds get the job done in the Championship at the second attempt, the investment would need to be massive to ensure no slip-ups and immediate relegation a year down the line – and then the following phase of the plan can commence.
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