Paraag Marathe given assurances on Leeds United amid Rangers takeover twist
Leeds United chairman Paraag Marathe is understood to be the primary driver towards the completion of the Rangers takeover.
49ers Enterprises, the investment arm of the San Francisco 49ers, are expected to finalise the Gers takeover in the coming weeks.
As the NFL giants also own Leeds United, there were fears about any restrictions from UEFA being imposed.
Leeds United ownership should not prevent San Francisco 49ers from completing the takeover
Marathe’s legal has given him cast-iron assurances that his position in the Leeds boardroom will not interfere with his ambitions to bring Gers under the 49ers’ wing, per the Daily Record.
However, things may get complicated at a later stage if both sides are to qualify for Europe and participate in the same UEFA competition.
That said, it is an issue of the future and not something that will cause any delays in completing this deal.
The NFL outfit appear to have grand plans once they buy Rangers which is perhaps why they’re looking at a controlling stake in the club.
| Entity | Stake in Rangers |
| Dave King | 13% |
| Douglas Park | 11.5% |
| George Taylor | 10.22% |
| Stuart Gibson | 9.53% |
| John Bennett | 7.11% |
| Bonita Investments Ltd. | 6.69% |
| Perron Investments Ltd. | 6% |
Rangers soon could have new owners at the helm
The process will now likely involve a structured process to finalise the deal and transition power.
Initially, the 49ers must secure agreements with key shareholders, such as Dave King and potentially John Bennett, who appear willing to sell.
To gain control, they’ll aim to acquire at least 30 per cent of shares, triggering a mandatory offer for remaining shares under UK takeover rules, though UEFA multi-club ownership regulations may cap their stake below 50 per cent due to Marathe’s Leeds United role.
Negotiations will intensify to finalise the purchase price and terms, with due diligence ensuring financial and legal clarity.
The SFA, having signalled no objections, will formally review the bid for compliance, likely approving Marathe’s boardroom involvement.
Once share transfers are executed, the Americans would then appoint representatives to a restructured Ibrox board, leveraging their Leeds United playbook to inject funds and expertise.
While it may be a tad premature for fans to celebrate, most takeovers have fizzled out before this stage so things certainly seem to be heading towards a positive conclusion.