49ers President Paraag Marathe "will take a larger role in the organization's outside business ventures," including USL club Sacramento Republic FC, according to a source cited by Matt Maiocco of CSNBAYAREA.com. Sources said that Marathe "will remain with his current title and job description" through Super Bowl 50, which will be played at Levi’s Stadium. Even after his reassignment, Marathe "will continue to manage the 49ers’ salary cap and remain as the team’s top contract negotiator." But a source said that Marathe "is not expected to retain the title of 49ers president." Marathe is in his 15th season with the 49ers and "has grown increasingly active in the 49ers’ outside business interests, including the soccer team and VenueNext, the startup that created the team’s Levi's Stadium app." Marathe was the 49ers’ "point person as the organization took a minority stake in Sacramento Republic FC in January" (CSNBAYAREA.com, 12/3). Maiocco noted Marathe has not had a "huge interest in the 49ers on-field product for a while." He said, "I can’t connect the dots entirely to this is a product of things going awry with the 49ers.' I’m told that it was just a natural progression and it really has nothing to do with the record.” But Maiocco added, “How this team ends this season will in many ways dictate where the organization plans to go for 2016 and beyond” (“SportsNet Central,” CSN Bay Area, 12/3).
LEAVING A VOID: In S.F., Eric Branch notes Marathe "previously had a large role in stadium operations and helped oversee the development of Levi’s Stadium." However, those duties, among other administrative responsibilities, "have increasingly been handled by COO Al Guido, who joined the 49ers" in January '14 (S.F. CHRONICLE, 12/4). ESPN.com's Paul Gutierrez notes Marathe has been CEO Jed York's "right-hand man and instrumental in shaping the front office's thinking on player contracts and football philosophy via analytics." Guido is expected to "assume some of Marathe's responsibilities" (ESPN.com, 12/4). CSNBAYAREA.com's Ray Ratto notes suggestions that Marathe’s "demotion/dismissal came as a result of a series of leaks to national football writers discrediting or demeaning" team QB Colin Kaepernick "are being made, and that might well be so." It is "hard, however, to see how Marathe would be so emboldened as to leak without prior permission, either directly or otherwise, from York himself." Ratto: "This seems more like a cover story than the triggering deed" (CSNBAYAREA.com, 12/4).
WIND OF CHANGE: In San Jose, Tim Kawakami wrote under the header, "What Bad 49ers Decisions Will The Yorks Make Next?" It "always starts at the top, and the top members of the 49ers executive branch probably would like some peace and quiet right about now." York and Marathe "don't want a fan revolt -- but they also don't want another coaching search, and they sure don't want to start wondering if they need" a new GM. John and Denise DeBartolo York -- the "true owners -- should think about cleaning house., including "moving aside their son and hiring a real football executive to take over" (SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS, 12/1).
