Sky Sports pundit fears Leeds United could follow Manchester United dysfunction after 49ers decision on man with ‘so much power’
We’re delighted to welcome former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson as our exclusive columnist as each week he’ll be giving his views on the biggest talking points at Leeds United …
Paul Robinson hopes Leeds United haven’t given themselves a similar problem to the one at Manchester United with their decision to keep Nick Hammond in an influential position on a temporary basis.
The new 49ers regime brought the former Newcastle and Celtic man in to help oversee the summer transfer window on a short-term basis but it has now been established that he will stay for the next two transfer windows, with The Athletic’s Phil Hay previously reporting that the hierarchy have been very impressed with his work in the months since.
But Sky Sports pundit Robinson has questioned why Hammond is remaining in a temporary role and fears it could lead to a repeat of the Old Trafford situation where he believes Erik ten Hag was given a “stay of execution” because there’s been nobody in place to “pull the trigger” on his sacking.
The former England keeper exclusively told MOT Leeds News: “The fact that it’s temporary doesn’t fill you with confidence. The window was decent, they had a decent window. If he’s there on a temporary basis you question why that is when he’s allowed to make certain decisions.
“Maybe he’s not allowed to make decisions, we’re not privy to that information. If he’s there to facilitate what the manager wants and sanction what he wants, players he does and doesn’t want then there’s a role there.
“If you’re given somebody the power of a sporting director of director of football who is in a temporary situation you question what his scouting network’s like, what his long-term plans are.
“I don’t know, he may want the job long-term but they may not want him long-term. We don’t know what the situation is, but anyone in that position with so much power you would question why it’s only temporary.
“You mirror it up to Manchester United, you look at Erik ten Hag. He’s had a stay of execution because there’s nobody to pull the trigger, nobody to sack him.
“Performances there haven’t been great, yes they’re playing well in the Premier League, but because of the restructuring at the top of the club with people in temporary charge and in temporary positions there’s nobody there to make solid footballing decisions.
“I hope that’s not the case at Leeds.”
Fans of the Old Trafford club might argue that there is no problem with the Dutch manager when their side are currently top of the Premier League form guide, but the off-field situation there seems to have a great deal more turmoil to it than Leeds United since the 49ers took over from Andrea Radrizzani.
It is somewhat unusual that Hammond hasn’t been signed to a permanent agreement if the owners are that impressed by his work, and necessarily means he is supposed to plan long-term for a role he is set to leave in the relative short-term.
But since his contribution to the summer window appears to have largely worked out very well perhaps there is ultimately nothing to worry about with the arrangement at Elland Road.
In other Leeds United news, Adam Pope has explained what the Whites have a claim against Everton on for major compensation.