Leeds United impressed with Nick Hammond in transfer window, contract extension may be on cards – Phil Hay

Nick Hammond’s “short-term contract” may be extended at Leeds United as the club are “impressed” with his work, says Phil Hay.

The former goalkeeper, 55, was appointed on 16 June, at a point where the 49ers takeover was still not cleared and Daniel Farke was yet to be brought in as manager, to help oversee the transfer window after performing a similar role at Newcastle.

He filled a gap primarily left by Victor Orta’s exit last season, and while Gretar Steinsson has since been brought in on a permanent basis as technical director (18 July) Hay feels that the impression Hammond has so far made could see him kept at the club.

leeds united

Hay said on The Square Ball podcast on Friday (21 July, 14m 40s) of the new set up at Elland Road: “Below [Angus] Kinnear you have this tier of management, answerable to him really in the way that he’s answerable to [Paraag] Marathe, which will be Steinsson and Nick Hammond, who’s sticking around for now.

“Actually I think Leeds have been pretty impressed with some of the work that he’s done, might consider trying to keep him on longer beyond this…

“Clubs are very active on the recruitment front these days so it’s not as if you don’t need several pairs of hands. Whether Hammond would want to stay, whether Leeds at the end of this window would want him to stay, we’ll have to see.”

Impact

It has only manifested itself so far in one first-team signing for Daniel Farke, with Ethan Ampadu’s arrival from Chelsea, but a host of expensive misfits have also been loaned out.

Given the gulf of senior figures at the club just a few weeks ago Hammond’s arrival was a sensible move, and if he has performed well enough behind the scenes that the prospect is open for him to stay it appears to vindicate the decision.

The Chris Armas debacle last season proved that Leeds United are not immune to keeping people around for no obvious reason, but under the new 49ers regime everyone will hope similar mistakes aren’t made.

Leeds United

While the American was brought in as an assistant to former colleague Jesse Marsch only to be bafflingly kept on when the then-manager was soon sacked, the transfer market waits for no man so if Hammond has kept things moving behind the scenes that should be an effect that remains useful whoever is in charge.

Farke, and indeed the fanbase, will be hoping that Hammond can assist on plenty more arrivals before the close of the current window yet.

But if a combination of the key figures now in place at Elland Road can help keep some of the important players that have yet to leave it would reduce the need for signings considerably.

In other Leeds United news, the Whites were the “priority” in contract talks with a free agent but a big offer has now landed on the table.