New Leeds United chairman Paraag Marathe has said the Premier League “needs” the club because they make the top flight “more special”.
The purchase of the club by 49ers Enterprises has now been confirmed and Marathe, who was previously vice-chairman and board member at the club, has replaced Andrea Radrizzani after the Italian agreed to sell his majority stake in the club.
Marathe spearheaded the move to the 49ers Enterprises and spoke to the official Leeds United Podcast about how important the club, who were relegated to the Championship last season, is to England’s top flight.
“I hate the fact that we didn’t have a chance to stay in the Premier League,” he said. “But it showed me one thing. Everyone tells me Leeds deserve to be in the Premier League because they’re a big club and that’s true.
“The Premier League needs Leeds. Call it what you want. The way we play. The tenacity we play with. Our history. The Premier League needs us. They know they need us because we make the league special.
“Leeds have something different. It’s not like those other clubs. Many of these clubs have had great success. Better success than we had. But we have something they don’t have. There is a movement under the surface and I want to be a part of that movement and I can’t wait to see what happens in five, ten years.”
Marathe also spoke about his 20-year history in the sport and how his past sets him apart from other CEOs in football.
He said: “It’s been an interesting ride over the last four or five years. I was previously a passenger on the train. I didn’t really have the opportunity to take control or get a direct insight into the workings of a football club. I’ve learned a lot during this time.
“I am different from your typical chairman or owner. I’m not a fifth-generation multi-billionaire doing this as a hobby or to kill some time. This is exactly the opposite. I started my own business and grew up with a love for sports. That’s me first and foremost. i love the competition i love to win I’ve always had problems, because for me it’s not a hobby, it’s life. That’s something I’m supposed to do. I am first and foremost a supporter.
“I have a special empathy and understanding for the tasks of each individual in the club because I have done all these tasks. 23 years with the 49ers, starting as an unpaid intern. I was the chief negotiator. I was president or CEO of a team. I built a stadium. I hired trainers. I have walked through the peaks and valleys of the mountains in support. I’ve seen everything and been through everything. I think that differentiates me from the chairmen of other clubs.”
In a statement, the club confirmed that Angus Kinnear, the club’s board member and CEO, will remain in his current position and continue to oversee day-to-day operations, while Rudy Cline-Thomas will join the board as co-owner and vice-chairman.
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Marathe said his new role at the club inspired him and provided insight into the club’s search for a new manager before appointing Daniel Farke earlier this month.
He said: “I feel inspired. There is still so much work to be done to get back into the Premier League and get the club back where they belong on and off the pitch. We want this club to be something that everyone can be proud of. Not only players and coaches, but also fans and sponsors. It’s something that inspires me. I carry the torch on behalf of everyone else.
“We had everything in place and checked every box and were ready to take over if we had stayed upstairs. Had the handover happened, the handover would have been fairly easy as it had been months and months in the works at that point. Of course, when we descended, that raised entirely new problems. The approval times took a little longer than we wanted.
“In the meantime, we’ve been working. We’ve done dozens of interviews with first-team managers and footballers who have been able to help us really have a good sense of the direction we’re going. A lot of work was done behind the scenes.”
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