Leeds United chairman Paraag Marathe has clarified his involvement at 49ers Enterprises part-owned Glasgow Rangers and believes the two clubs can work together on player movement.

Last summer the investment vehicle that owns 100 per cent of Leeds United joined Andrew Cavenagh in purchasing a majority stake in Glasgow Rangers and implementing a takeover. Cavenagh took the role of chairman with Marathe as vice chair. But in February after discussions with UEFA about multi-club ownership rules Rangers confirmed Marathe was standing down as vice chairman. He and fellow Leeds director Gene Schneur both stepped down from their boardroom roles at Ibrox two days before UEFA's deadline for clubs to be compliant with multi-club ownership rules. Concerns over clubs owned by the same parties meeting in European competition were at the heart of it and even if there was a slim chance of a Rangers-Leeds meeting, the Scottish giants will be in next season's Europa League, while Leeds reached the semi-final of the FA Cup, with the winners traditionally qualifying for that European competition.

But Marathe says his involvement is the same, regardless of the title he no longer holds. "Same involvement," he said. "Very, very involved. I'm very interested, I'm very passionate about it. Also, there was the MCO rules, things that sort of prevented official board status for the moment, and that could change back too. But very much still involved the same."

The idea of potential player trading between 49ers Enterprises' two clubs was mooted when the Rangers takeover was completed and Marathe has confirmed there were chances for that to happen during last season but players involved opted against it. Marathe says there would be benefits to players moving between the clubs.

"Definitely, because we can maybe help influence the players' opportunity and ability to play," he said. "Make sure we know the system fits, make sure we know the medical performance side is good for him, the coach, because we have more knowledge of it all, as opposed to sending a player off and not knowing how it's [going to look]. But ultimately it also takes three [willing parties] - the player has to want to go the other club, we're not forcing just because we're part of both clubs, operating both clubs, we're not forcing a player to, or forcing the other club to take him. So they also have to want him. There were one or two opportunities last season that would have made sense, but in the end the player didn't want to go. But there would have been an opportunity. There could have been an opportunity, and hopefully, or maybe there is one in the future too."

Reports of Rangers interest in a move for Joel Piroe in January amounted to nothing. The YEP reported throughout the mid-season window that the striker's only wish was to remain at Leeds in the Premier League and fight for his place. Celtic did make an approach to loan the centre forward, but it was met with bemusement by those running both Leeds and Rangers. Piroe is one of those who could depart Elland Road this summer with Marathe expecting the recruitment of 'high level creative differential players' and a number of exits.