Rangers Vice Chairman Paraag Marathe Eager to Drive Long-Term Success at Ibrox
In his first public appearance since the recent takeover by a consortium led by Andrew Cavenagh and the 49ers Enterprises, Rangers Vice Chairman Paraag Marathe expressed a clear ambition to bring sustained success to the club.
Speaking to RangersTV, Marathe kept his goals straightforward: “Win that’s the goal in the short, medium, and long term.” While he admitted he’s naturally impatient, he acknowledged that building a winning team takes time, discipline, and strong foundational decisions. “It’s about getting more decisions right than wrong, stacking those good calls, and creating the best chance to succeed. Even though luck plays its part in football, we’ll control what we can and aim to be in a strong position to win titles and cups.”
Marathe added that the ultimate aim is to position Rangers to be competitive every season across all competitions. “If Andrew and I are doing things right, you won’t hear from us too often our work will speak through results.”
The club has already seen major structural changes this summer. Kevin Thelwell has stepped in as Sporting Director, working with CEO Patrick Stewart and the 49ers to help appoint the new Head Coach, Russell Martin, who took charge earlier this month. Dan Purdy has also joined as Technical Director.
Marathe spoke highly of the new leadership team: “I’ve followed both Kevin and Dan’s work for years. Their approach to football data-driven, thoughtful, and always looking for a competitive edge matches ours. They complement each other well, and we’re excited about what they’ll bring to the club.”
On Russell Martin’s appointment, Marathe explained the selection came after a thorough process led by Patrick Stewart and Kevin Thelwell. “Russell’s experience, both as a former Rangers player and a successful coach, made him stand out. He understands the expectations here — there are no grace periods in football. The pressure to win is immediate, and Russell is prepared for that.”
Marathe concluded by noting that the best managers adapt and grow from challenges, and he believes Russell Martin is the kind of coach who has done just that.
