New Leeds United chairman Paraag Marathe: ‘This is not a hobby, this is life to me’
New Leeds United chairman Paraag Marathe says he is “different from your typical chairman” after the 49ers Enterprises’ purchase of the club was confirmed.
arathe, who was previously vice chairman and a board member of the club, has taken over from Andrea Radrizzani after the Italian agreed to sell his majority stake in the club.
Marathe led the transition to the 49ers Enterprises and in an interview with the official Leeds United Podcast, spoke about his 20-year history in sports and how his past makes him different from other chairmen in football.
He said: “It has been an interesting ride the last four or five years. I have been a passenger on the train so far. I haven’t really had my chance on the controls or had a front-seat view of how a football club runs. I have learned a lot over that time.
“I am different from your typical chairman or owner. I am not a fifth-generation multi-billionaire who is doing this for a hobby or wants to kill some time. That is quite the opposite. I came up on my own and I grew up loving sports. That is first and foremost who I am. I love competition. I love winning. I have always had a chip on my shoulder because this is not a hobby, this is life to me. This is something that I am meant to do. I am a supporter first.
“In a statement, the club confirmed that Angus Kinnear, a board member and the club’s CEO, would remain in his current position, and continue to direct day-to-day operations while Rudy Cline-Thomas will join the board as co-owner and vice chairman.
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