49ers set for new high-level Leeds United arrivals as ‘massive focus’ for Morrie Eisenberg emerges – Phil Hay
Morrie Eisenberg’s arrival as the new Leeds United COO is not the end of the high-level appointments set to be made by the 49ers, according to Phil Hay.
Speaking on the Square Ball podcast on 30 October the Athletic journalist suggested that redevelopment of Elland Road will be a “massive focus” for the new executive arrival, who is due to sit just below CEO Angus Kinnear in the hierarchy, having been involved in the development of the NFL franchise’s Santa Clara stadium.
But with the American owners having felt the set-up in West Yorkshire was wholly inadequate upon taking over the club this summer Hay expects multiple more faces to be added to the management structure still.
Hay said of Eisenberg’s appointment (26m): “This is part of the 49ers plan to broaden out the management structure at Elland Road. He will, from my understanding, be below Angus Kinnear in the chain of command but it is still a senior position.
“He’s well known to the 49ers, he was involved in their stadium redevelopment over there. I think that will be a massive focus of his job.
“As I’ve said before, the impression the 49ers had of Leeds was that, irrespective of three years in the Premier League, they didn’t have a Premier league infrastructure, they weren’t really close to having one.
“I don’t think this is the last appointment we will see. There will be other people who arrive in similar roles or at that kind of level to broaden things out.”
On the stadium he added: “I don’t think the 49ers want to wait long in doing that. There must be a certain degree to which they have to hedge their bets a little bit depending on promotion and getting the timing right, but it does feel like it’s a project that will definitely happen.”
Revamp
Considering how much the new owners see the need to overhaul the set up at Elland Road before they can properly set about the redevelopment of the stadium and the club it is a wonder that Leeds United ever got where they did with Andrea Radrizzani in charge.
Marcelo Bielsa’s influence seems to become more transformative even this long after he left the club, and the current moves perhaps explain why things eventually fell apart so badly in the top flight.
There is plenty of work to do but on the side of the football operation things seem to be falling into place to a reasonable extent so far.
Daniel Farke and the recruitment department look to have done a very strong job to stabilise the situation after a dramatic summer, and despite some remaining deficiencies have the Whites looking good for a play-off spot at minimum currently.
The second half against Huddersfield exposed the drop off from the first XI to the supporting cast however, as a 4-0 half-time score finished as a 4-1 result.
But if the 49ers can get work under way on the stadium that shows similar progress to the team then it should please supporters.
In other Leeds United news, the “most high-profile” potential transfer in the January window could now derail the promotion bid.