“It matters to players that we’re out recruiting that, ‘oh, wait a second, the 49ers are involved in this’. This must mean that there’s a certain extra gravitas that comes to it that helps us in the recruitment of players.”
Marathe thought the Scottish Premiership runners-up would also benefit commercially from “being in the same sentence” to “one of the biggest sports brands in the world” and “certainly one of the most recognisable”.
He stressed that it works both ways, with the NFL giants being “more into the conversation globally” by being associated with Rangers – “a gem” and “crown jewel” of European football.
“We are one of the biggest clubs in all of the world with, whatever it is, 600 supporter groups around the world and millions of fans,” he said.
“Football is sort of borderless – it is the world’s great game. It’s one of the reasons why we wanted to be involved here. And so the more people that can consume the brand, consume the sport, consume the matches, the better for us.”
League of Ireland club Drogheda United were expelled from the Conference League due to their owners, US-based Trivela Group, also controlling Danish side Silkeborg.
Meanwhile, American businessman John Textor, who owns French club Lyon, this week sold his stake in Crystal Palace in a move designed to clear the way for the London club to play in Europe this coming season.
“We have checked the box with those that we need to, to make sure that, if and when there was ever even a situation where there’s even the perception of a conflict, that we would solve that,” Marathe said about Rangers’ link with Leeds.
“And so that has already been solved. We are good there.”
