Paraag Marathe revealed nothing in his “exclusive interview” about an Ibrox takeover. As usual, the Celtic bloggers have to point this out
Eric Knott 
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Yesterday evening, Record Sport was shouting from the rooftops that Paraag Marathe had broken his silence on the San Francisco 49ers supposed Ibrox takeover.
Upon reading the headline of this article, you’re expecting a big reveal.
Concrete confirmation that this deal is….the real deal.
But there was nothing of the sort.
If anything, Marathe’s comments were an exercise in avoidance.
Comments that are totally open to interpretation.
If you’re an Ibrox fan, you’ll interpret them the way you want to.
If you’re a Celtic blogger like me, you’ll interpret them exactly as they’re meant to be interpreted.
They tell you nothing.
Here’s what Marathe had to say:
I can’t really comment on whatever rumours might be out there,” he said at the Financial Times Business
But we are looking at other opportunities. And I think it is doable to replicate the passion [he has for Leeds].
What we are looking for is clubs with the right bones, clubs with the right history of success.
Clubs with the right potential for growth. And if you’re a sportsperson and you love it and you treat it as a way of life – so to speak – like I do, then absolutely there’s enough room in your heart.
Just like there is to love all of your children, there’s enough room in your heart to love all your sports properties
So, firstly he says he can’t really comment on the rumours out there.
Rumours being the operative word.
This is not Marathe “breaking his silence”, this is Marathe confirming there nothing but rumours and speculation going on.
But we are looking at other opportunities…
Do you see any mention of the Ibrox club there?
Didn’t think so.
He says he is looking for clubs with the right bones, with the right history of success.
The Ibrox side has won three trophies in it’s short existence.
Not exactly a track record or history of success is it?
He then talks about clubs with the right potential for growth.
The Ibrox club has hit it’s current ceiling for growth at the moment.
They cannot put any more bums on seats than their current capacity of 50,600.
They sell all their season tickets every year.
They are up against a formidable foe in Celtic, and they have proven categorically over the last 13 years that they just cannot compete with us.
The Europa League is consistently as good as it gets in Europe for the Ibrox Club, and the money on offer there is no where near what the Champions League offers.
So tell me, where is the potential for growth in comparison to Leeds United?
Leeds are on the cusp of getting to the EPL.
Marathe is talking about expansion of Elland Road, which makes sense if they want to become a consistent performer in the EPL.
That kind of structural investment will guarantee a return for 49ers Enterprises, because an EPL side will always sell its full compliment of season tickets.
It is, after all, supposedly the biggest and richest league in the world.
So, by comparison, do we really think firstly, that 49ers Enterprises are going to clear all of the Ibrox club’s current debt?
And secondly, then invest tens of millions in stadium expansion?
Because stadium expansion is the only way they would make the Ibrox outfit financially competitive when it comes to Celtic.
That’s just for a start.
It ain’t going to happen.
49ers Enterprises are not going to pay the £50 to £60 million it’s going to cost to pay the current directors off.
They’re not going to then hand over £50 million to invest in the playing squad.
That’s already £100+ million they’d need to invest, with no guarantee of a return.
The idea of them expanding Ibrox, similar to Elland Road?
Well, I only made that comparison because to earn more money than they already are from season ticket sales, that’s what they’d have to do.
But there’s no chance of that happening.
Based on what Marathe has said, they are looking at “opportunities”.
I think it will soon become apparent to smart businessmen like Marathe and his bosses, that this not a significant opportunity.
This is a lame duck.
And believe me, these guys are smarter than that.
They’re not going to “plunge” millions into a debt ridden club, when it could take years to see a return.
They haven’t done it at Leeds.
But hey, let the media keep filling the klanbase full of hope.
Paraag Marathe revealed nothing yesterday.
He didn’t break his silence about anything.
Because there hasn’t been anything for him to be silent on.
If he’s looking for a good business investment opportunity, there’s a brilliant one in the East end of Glasgow.
Although Marathe is smart enough to know that’s off limits.
Same as I’m sure he knows the Ibrox club is a basket case.
But they’ll let them know that in due course.
Of that, I’m sure.
They can’t hand over any money at all for the playing squad without breaching FSR.
They’d be off their nut to buy the filth.
On the same way no one will ever know what he and his backers will have paid to buy control. (20p a share? No chance!) The Laptop Loyal will cheerlead. No one will point out that if the current Real Rangurs Men are willing to take a haircut and He can pay 5p a share then majority control ( without having to pay a full scale buyout) is buttons. Cut the costs, hike the prices, make it slicker and more corporate, populate the team with kids as a feeder, bring in some more sponsorship money, settle for 2nd, sell some players in next 5 years and the business, whilst operating at it’s optimum, is at least washing its face and making profits 2/3 years every 5 whilst your major competitor is a very lazy complacent business who will falter every couple of years to give you a League Title. Whilst League and Scottish Cups, one of each every year at least are nailed on thanks to the brothers at the SFA. It works!! 😁👍
Of course there is room for growth all they have to do( not easy) is take top spot by winning the league, then it’s onto the ECL then the sky is the limit
Keep dreaming davie bhoy , guys like Andy smillie are not plunging there money in , they all want to spend someone else’s dosh .
4 in a row.
As usual all the experts at Scotland’s penne state fc all over a rangers story You are obsessed phil ps if only you would fund out more about the up coming abuse trial you’d be more interesting ps You think about rangers morning noon and night, go onto rangers sites and it’s all about Rangers gi onto Scotland’s penne state fc and yes it’s alk about rhe thing you say doesn’t exist 😀
Eric I thought you half banned this twat?
Had banned
New guy, they’re all Billy, can’t tell one from the next.
King Billy on a Celtic site telling us we’re obsessed that simple he doesn’t even see the hypocrisy🤣🤣🍀
Billy
Your old dead club put people in a death trap stadium knowing it was a danger, as had been proven with previous deaths and injuries in incidents just a few years earlier. How can u possibly support a club which claims to be the same one as the one that died in 2012 after being responsible for killing and injuring its own fans?
Billy is obsessed himself,a discussion a million miles away from his favourite subject but it’s still first place his fevered mind goes
We live rent free in the typical Zombies heads. They say we are obsessed with them. Not really. We are obsessed with the hilarity that you give us. You are Dobsessed eith us. Every move you make every statement has something to do with trying to keep up with us. Like I said we live rent free in yer empty heids
The fear is ripping out in this rabble, can only imagine the meltdown when it actually happens 😂
You lot really are obsessed and before any of you say it’s the other way round this story is to do with rangers none of it is to do with smelltic.
And fact is this twat that’s wrote this has 0 clue if their gonna buy into rangers not.
This seems more like he hopes they don’t buy the club.
All these huns moaning about Celtic fans talking about their utter joke of a klub. 😂 Us Celtic supporters will continue to talk about & laugh at you lot & your desperate state of a klub and there’s nothing you can do to stop us. If I was a hun ( thank christ I’m not ) I’d be getting an appointment with your GP to ask for some antidepressants coz you will surely need them when this deal with the 49ers falls flat on its arse. And yes, we’ll be here laughing and talking all about it. 😂 🍀