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Ex-Gers star says 49ers 'have given fans the Leeds Utd they've wanted for years'
THEY are behind the wheel of the juggernaut hurtling Leeds United towards the Premier League. Soon, the billionaire owners of the San Francisco 49ers could be in the driving seat at Rangers. Elland…
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THEY are behind the wheel of the juggernaut hurtling Leeds United towards the Premier League.
Soon, the billionaire owners of the San Francisco 49ers could be in the driving seat at Rangers.
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Paraag Marathe, president of San Francisco Forty Niners LtdCredit: Getty5
Ross McCormack in action during his days at Leeds UtdCredit: Action Images - Reuters5
Paraag Marathe has been hailed as a huge success at LeedsCredit: RexElland Road chairman Paraag Marathe is part of a US-led Ibrox takeover bid.
Back in July 2023, he brokered the deal which saw Leeds come under the ownership of 49ers Enterprises.
Since then - and following relegation to the Championship - the NFL supremo has overseen a complete overhaul of the Yorkshire giants, building a squad that's now two points clear at the top of the second tier.
Gers fans are now dreaming he can bankroll a similar revolution at Rangers.
Read More Football StoriesEx-Leeds skipper Ross McCormack, who began his career at Ibrox, believes the similarities between his two former clubs are striking.
He told SunSport: "To get an organisation of this size, with the potential financial backing it could bring, then of course the fans have every right to be excited.
"When you look at what they've done at Leeds, when you look at the squad they have built, it's by far and away the best squad I've ever seen there.
"I think they are probably missing a striker, but other than that, this Leeds United squad is the best I have seen put together in that league.
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"They are on course for promotion back to the Premier League and there are more exciting times ahead.
"For me, it highlights the importance of getting the right people in charge to run a football club.
San Francisco 49ers supremo leads on Rangers takeover"Rangers are similar to Leeds in that if you get the train moving then it's hard to stop.
"To build that momentum you need to have everyone pulling in the right direction and that's what happened at Leeds.
"The club was a little bit disjointed when they came in and took over. They have galvanised the whole club.
"They've given the fans the Leeds United they have wanted for years.
"It's going to be a slow process but if they can do it at Leeds then they can do it at Rangers. Look, they are not going to come in and throw £100million at it right away. What you will see is signs of progress and that things are going in the right direction."
As part of Marathe's involvement, Rangers would get access to the 49ers' cutting-edge data drive technology for player recruitment, just like Leeds.
The Americans view Gers as a perfect investment opportunity considering the club's continued involvement in the Europa or Champions League.
McCormack said: "I wouldn't say there was scepticism when they first came on board at Leeds. I would say there was a great deal of excitement.
"This is a proper, recognised franchise. You are dealing with a massive organisation.
"During my time, we had an investment company from Dubai come on board and there was more scepticism around them because they were unknown.
"Everyone knows the 49ers so the excitement from day one was real. It will be the same for the Rangers fans.
"But it won't be an overnight thing. They won't come in and suddenly Rangers are better than Celtic. It is going to take time and it's important the fans recognise that. Time is hard to come by up here, I know that.
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23.01.2025 Manchester United v Rangers: Paraag Marathe watching Rangers at Old Trafford in JanuaryCredit: Willie Vass"But as long as they can provide little bits of evidence that things are progressing then I know the fans will be behind it."
The 49ers Enterprises assumed ownership of Leeds from Italian businessman Andrea Radrizzani in 2023 after the English Football League formally approved the £170m takeover.
The investment arm of the San Francisco 49ers now want to seize control of Rangers with talks at an advanced stage to buy out Dave King and other shareholders.
McCormack said: "I am just sad it didn't happen ten years ago when I was at the club.
"When I was there, I kept saying that's exactly what Leeds needed. They needed an injection, fresh ideas and reliable people in charge.
"We went through so many different owners that we didn't know if we were coming or going. There was no real stability.
"When the Italian owner came in there were people losing their jobs on a regular basis - kitchen staff, laundry staff.
"I was only getting part of my wages and other players only getting half. It wasn't a good place.
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Paraag Marathe of the San Francisco 49ersCredit: Getty"All the club needed was someone like the Americans to come in and transform it.
"Leeds is a sleeping giant. I've had loads of conversations with Celtic and Rangers fans who think Leeds are a big Championship club. They are much bigger than that."
Should a multi-million pound buyout get over the line, that would open the door to a potentially lucrative relationship with the 49ers.
It has already left Rangers fans dreaming of a brighter future after years of Celtic dominance.
McCormack said: "The fans deserve this. I say it all the time, even when I lived down south - Rangers and Celtic are two of the biggest clubs on the planet.
Read more on the Scottish Sun"The Rangers fans pay their money, they follow their club everywhere and they deserve this. They deserve the excitement.
"They will have seen from the outside the transformation at Leeds and will be hoping for some of the same at Rangers."
Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
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