Leeds United chairman Paraag Marathe reveals 'win trophies' pledge in open letter to fans — YEP 31/5/25
By Joe Donnohue
Leeds United chairman Paraag Marathe has jointly vowed to
restore the 49ers' newly-acquired Rangers to the summit of Scottish football in
an open letter to Gers supporters.
The 49ers Enterprises executive and Leeds board member will
undertake a new role at Ibrox as vice chair following the club's acquisition by
a consortium, which features the 49ers' Global Football Group.
In conjunction with American business mogul Andrew Cavenagh,
Marathe has penned an open letter to fans of the historic Scottish club, vowing
to bring glory days back to Ibrox via a careful and strategic plan.
"Dear Rangers Supporters, we are proud to be entering a
new chapter for this extraordinary club," it began, following an official
takeover announcement on Friday, May 30. "This moment is the result of
months of thoughtful discussions with club leadership and our shared confidence
in Rangers’ success going forward. To that end we’d like to tell you a bit
about our thinking.
"Simply put – our goal is to win trophies in Scotland
and be able to compete at a high level in Europe, while laying a foundation of
financial sustainability for the future. As our first step, we are investing
fresh capital into Rangers, which will be strategically deployed on and off the
pitch. While we recognise the importance of resources, we believe that
thoughtful, disciplined investment, guided by a clear strategy, is the path to
enduring success. Every decision, whether sporting or business, will be made
with the club’s long-term success and sustainability in mind."
The consortium has extensive experience in the sporting
world while Marathe himself has over 20 years at executive level with NFL
franchise San Francisco 49ers and six years at Elland Road, initially as a
minority investor, before becoming chairman after acquiring Andrea Radrizzani's
controlling share of the club in 2023.
"We aim to leverage the full strength of 49ers
Enterprises’ sporting expertise and operational experience, and are confident
in Patrick Stewart and Kevin Thelwell to lead this next phase," the open
letter continued. "Our first priority together is clear: hiring a new
men’s Head Coach. That process is already well underway, and we look forward to
sharing more updates soon. We will also look to invest in talent for our teams.
"Moving forward, we are reconstituting the Board to
bring in a few new voices and skill sets. We all owe a special thanks to the
previous Board for their service. They stepped up in a difficult moment when
the club needed them and laid the foundation for what comes next.
"Above all, we know that true success comes from
understanding and honouring what makes this club special. In our time getting
to know Ibrox, Glasgow, and you, we’ve felt the pride, history, and passion
that set Rangers apart. You have made it clear what this club means to you, and
we take the responsibility of leading this club seriously.
"We look forward to seeing you at Ibrox soon. For now,
we’ll keep working, and we can’t wait for what’s ahead."
Despite developments north of the border, Marathe and the
49ers' commitment at Leeds is unchanged, which was confirmed in a statement by
a Global Football Group spokesperson last month. More recently, the ownership
raised £120 million via a share issue to existing investors in Leeds, which
will fund the initial stages of Elland Road's redevelopment and potentially
supplement Daniel Farke's ability to spend on transfers this summer.
Rangers could compete in the UEFA Champions League next
season, if they are successful in the second qualifying and subsequent play-off
rounds, which begin next month. The Ibrox club are expected to have a new
manager in place before the team return for pre-season training ahead of their
qualification matches.