SAN FRANCISCO 49ers chief Paraag Marathe is part of a US-led Rangers takeover bid.
The NFL supremo is involved in a consortium hoping to take control of the Ibrox club.
Leeds United chairman Marathe and fellow US business figures have held detailed talks with the Gers hierarchy in recent months.
SunSport understands current board member, the American John Halsted, has been a prominent figure in bringing potential investors to the table.
And this could lead to the 49ers being part of a major multi-million pound investment – should a deal be struck.
Ibrox sources insist there are still plenty of hurdles to overcome as high-level discussions continue.
But there is hope that an agreement can be reached with the US investors to kick off a new era at Gers.
The consortium see huge potential in the Ibrox club, with possible access to the Champions League a reward for domestic success.
They also view Scottish football as a prime environment to bring in young talent and adopt a successful player-trading model.
Marathe heads up the 49ers Enterprises arm – which seeks to ‘oversee outside business ventures, advisory efforts, and major investment opportunities for the club’.
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He is also Executive VP of Football Operations for the NFL giants.
Marathe orchestrated the 49ers’ takeover of Leeds in 2023 after years of investment and is driving their bid for Premier League promotion.
Under the SFA’s dual ownership stance, this could limit the 49ers’ ability to snap up a Gers shareholding of over 29.9 per cent – the amount Bournemouth supremo Bill Foley was allowed to control in Hibs.
However, there are other US investors keen to plunge money into Gers as part of a wider consortium.
These figures believe Marathe’s experience of British football can be of huge significance as part of a potential deal to revive Rangers.
And the 49ers – bankrolled by the York family – could extend their portfolio by investing in the Ibrox giants.
Speaking at the club’s AGM last year, interim chairman John Gilligan made it clear that Rangers were open to a cash injection.
The Ibrox club are currently strapped for cash after posting a £17.2million loss last year.
Boss Philippe Clement was limited to just one loan signing in January, with runaway league leaders Celtic favourites to complete another Treble.
The Lowdown: The San Francisco 49ers
Everything you need to know about the San Francisco 49ers
- Founded: Established in 1946 as part of the AAFC; joined the NFL in 1949.
- Team Name Origin: Named after the prospectors of the 1849 California Gold Rush.
- Location: Based in the San Francisco Bay Area; home games played at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara.
- Team Colours: Red, gold, and white, representing the Gold Rush heritage.
- Super Bowl Success: Five-time Super Bowl champions (1981, 1984, 1988, 1989, 1994 seasons).
- Key Players in History: Legends include Joe Montana, Jerry Rice, Steve Young, and Ronnie Lott.
- Hall of Fame: Many inductees, including Bill Walsh, Joe Montana, Jerry Rice, and Steve Young.
- The West Coast Offence: Known for popularising Bill Walsh’s innovative passing strategy in the 1980s.
- Rivalries: Major rivalries with the Dallas Cowboys, Green Bay Packers, Seattle Seahawks, and Los Angeles Rams.
- Community Impact: Active in charity and youth programmes through the 49ers Foundation.
But back in December, Gilligan promised fans that change was coming.
He told shareholders: “There is fresh investment coming into the club.
“The current investors have invested considerably over the years and are willing to do so again.
“We are open to anyone who approaches us on investment.
“We get approaches from all over the world from various sources.
“But it has to be the right people and the right conditions and for the right amount of shares.
“We don’t want one person owning the club.”
Rangers’ current shareholding group is varied – with former chairman Dave King still owning around 13 per cent.
Douglas Park, George Taylor, Stuart Gibson and John Bennett also have a significant amount of shares.
It’s believed several of them would be willing to cut a deal for the right price, if they felt it was in the best interests of the club.
The Rangers board already has strong American ties, with non-executive director Alastair Johnston vice chairman of US-based IMG – a leading sports and entertainment group.
Wyoming-based Halsted became a Gers investor in 2021 through Perron Investments, LLC.
There’s been a spate of tie-ins between the US sport and British football with Tom Brady is the co-owner of a Birmingham City side which has many ex-Gers stars on the payroll in the form of Scott Wright, Ben Davies and Kieran Dowell.
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JJ Watt is a minority investor in a Burnley side which currently sits third in the EFL Championship table.
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
