Leeds United takeover announcement and Daniel Farke wait not EFL’s fault amid ‘utterly tiresome’ verdict – Phil Hay
The wait for the EFL to ratify the Leeds United takeover is “utterly tiresome” but “not their fault” while there is still no indication when it is made official, says Phil Hay.
He called the idea that there was actually a delay in proceedings “presumptuous” and suggested that the club have to take a certain amount of responsibility for the situation thanks to their own delay in agreeing the sale from Andrea Radrizzani to the 49ers well past the final day of the season.
With Daniel Farke waiting in the wings as the new Elland Road manager it appears the whole summer is now waiting on the paperwork to be cleared, but the league are still effectively “new” to the matter since the takeover deal was only announced on 9 June.
Speaking on The Square Ball on Friday (30 June, 3m) Hay confirmed the Farke has been spoken to but said of the lack of appointment: “Awaiting white smoke, green light, whatever you want to say. The problem with the takeover is there doesn’t seem to be inherent problem with it or issue with the people involved, but it is dependent on the paper work getting finished…
“There’s the inclination to say this is taking forever and they need to get on with it. It’s not their [EFL] fault that it was nine or 10 days into June that Radrizzani and the 49ers actually agreed their takeover deal, it’s not their fault that there was no relegation provision in place… so I don’t think it will be miles away but we’ve been saying that for a while.”
Own fault
The delay after relegation was frustrating enough at the time as Radrizzani appeared more interested in his new concerns at Sampdoria, so it is no huge surprise that it is causing knock-on effects.
The announcement from the league could come any day, and with it Farke’s unveiling, after which the important business in the transfer market can properly get under way.
But with an investment group containing multiple people it was always likely to be a fairly lengthy process, and it is probably better to be safe than sorry in terms of the suitability of those involved.
That won’t make it any more enjoyable for fans to be sat waiting for news on vital aspects of the preparations for the new season, but the club have only got themselves to blame to an extent.
The deal for a Premier League sale to go through was in place months ago, and yet neither side saw fit to get a fall-back in place for relegation despite it looking more and more likely.
Everyone involved will clearly be hoping that the next step is just around the corner, but it is impossible to force a process that started belatedly, so for now fans and executives alike are left twiddling their thumbs.
In other Leeds United news, the Elland Road exodus appears to be underway as a first-team exit is now “confirmed”.