Leeds United chair Paraag Marathe clarifies Rangers involvement and possible transfer link | OneFootball

Leeds United chair Paraag Marathe says he remains closely involved at Rangers, part-owned by 49ers Enterprises, and believes the two clubs could work together on player movement, despite stepping down from his Ibrox vice chair role in February.

According to yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk, last summer the investment vehicle that owns 100 per cent of Leeds United joined Andrew Cavenagh to buy a majority stake in Glasgow Rangers. Cavenagh became chairman and Marathe vice chair, before he and fellow Leeds director Gene Schneur resigned their Ibrox board roles two days before UEFA’s compliance deadline.

UEFA’s concerns focused on multi-club ownership and the risk of shared owners meeting in Europe. Rangers will be in next season’s Europa League, while Leeds reached the FA Cup semi-final, whose winners usually qualify for that competition.

Marathe said his involvement is unchanged despite no official board title. He added that multi-club rules prevented formal status for now and said it could change back.

On player movement, he argued there are benefits to switching between the clubs, from fit within the system to medical and coaching knowledge. Any deal, he said, needs three willing parties, and one or two potential moves last season fell through because the player did not want to go. He suggested there could be an opportunity in future.

Reports of Rangers interest in Joel Piroe in January came to nothing. The striker wanted to remain at Leeds in the Premier League and fight for his place, and a Celtic loan approach was met with bemusement by decision-makers at both clubs. Piroe could depart this summer, with Marathe expecting to recruit high-level creative, differential players and anticipating a number of exits.

Source: yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk