Leeds United manager delay suggests Daniel Farke is chosen one after 49ers hierarchy ‘concerns’ update
The delay in Leeds United announcing their long-awaited new manager continues to suggest that Daniel Farke is the chosen one at Elland Road.
The German has been a prominent candidate for most of the race to replace Sam Allardyce thanks to his record of winning the Championship title twice at Norwich, before Patrick Vieira emerged as a contender later and impressed in interviews [Phil Hay, 23 June].
But with the 49ers apparently insisting that EFL ratification “must come first”, before the next appointment is made and the transfer business can get under way in earnest [Yorkshire Evening Post, 27 June], it certainly seems like new owners want Farke in next.
Reach PLC‘s Conor McGilligan reported on the One Leeds Fan Channel on YouTube last week (22 June, 35s) that a source close to Angus Kinnear had relayed that the 46-year-old ex-Borussia Monchengladbach boss was “very, very close” but that he was “not completely sold” on the uncertainty around the hierarchy.
The former Championship Manager of the Season’s backroom staff had also reportedly “expressed concerns” about the situation in a summer of upheaval in West Yorkshire, which could well be why the new owners want their takeover officially ratified as a priority to provide some clear answers.
As 44% minority owners since 2021, and involved in the club for years before that, their interest in Leeds United obviously doesn’t hinge entirely on the current EFL process, and with Angus Kinnear and Paraag Marathe both central either way they could perhaps just name their choice.
But if it is the German they want but he and his team want stability assured then those “concerns” could be contributing to the delay.
The reported interest in bringing Stuart Webber in as sporting director to replace Victor Orta [Sky Sports, 13 June] also feeds into the view that it is Farke’s job if he wants it, although ongoing commitments at Carrow Road for Webber have seen the Whites turn to Nick Hammond on a short-term basis.
Either way, the ongoing delays are only going to back up the extensive work that needs doing before the start of the new season, with the chances that transfer business is pressed right up to the wire on deadline day growing all the time.
The club reportedly see this Sunday (2 July) as the “very latest” deadline for the announcements of the takeover ratification and the new boss as players will be arriving back for preseason then [Yorkshire Evening Post, 26 June].
So there may be movement yet this week, but if the weekend comes and goes then it might start to become a genuine concern.
In other Leeds United news, the decision was due Friday (23 June) but that deadline has already come and gone.