Leeds United owner Paraag Marathe spotted at Elland Road before Southampton loss
Leeds United chairman Paraag Marathe was spotted walking around the Elland Road pitch several times before the 2-1 defeat against Southampton on 4 May.
BBC Radio Leeds commentator Adam Pope posted on X pre-match, having seen the club’s owner walking “several laps” around the Elland Road pitch before the two teams came out.
Marathe, who leads the 49ers Enterprises investment firm in charge at Elland Road, was in attendance hoping his Leeds side could achieve automatic promotion on the final day of the Championship season.
But after a strong first-half showing, Leeds conceded a breakaway goal to go 2-1 up 10 minutes before the break, and the Whites couldn’t find a way to turn things around in the second half.
Pope joked: “Paraag Marathe has his steps in.”
Leeds United lose on final day as promotion campaign falters
Leeds United and 49ers Enterprises have big plans for the club’s future, but the investment planned by Marathe and the club’s board is somewhat dependent upon the Whites returning to the Premier League.
Despite their 2-1 loss to Southampton confirming that Leeds will not finish in the Championship’s top two, they do have another chance to make an immediate return to the top flight via the play-offs.
The final day’s results have also cemented the identity of the four clubs who will contest the end-of-season deciders, with Leeds, Southampton, West Brom and Norwich City all finishing in the top six.
Daniel Farke will now prepare Leeds to face his former employers Norwich, who will host the Whites at Carrow Road on Sunday 12 May before heading to Elland Road four days later for the second leg.
Farke achieved automatic promotion twice within three years with Norwich, and if he has hopes of reaching the Premier League with Leeds at the first time of asking, he’ll have to get past the Canaries to have any chance of glory at Wembley.
In other Leeds United news, a new stumbling block has emerged in the club’s transfer push for on-loan Joe Rodon
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