Leeds United takeover update: Andrea Radrizzani and Angus Kinnear set to stay in place upon 49ers sale agreement – Sky Sports
Andrea Radrizzani and Angus Kinnear could be set to remain at Leeds United to oversee a “transition period” once agreement to sell to 49ers Enterprises is reached, with a plan already in place, Sky Sports reports.
The Italian reportedly flew out to the US late last week to broker talks over a new agreement, with the subsequent relegation to the Championship on Sunday (28 May) rendering the pre-agreed deal irrelevant, but new terms were not secured.
While the sale is currently “hanging in the balance” there has been an indication that agreement should still be reached, at which point there are previsions in place for the two current Elland Road chiefs to remain in the short-term, despite Phil Hay (26 May) indicating that the Americans would want Radrizzani to “exit the building” sooner rather than later.
In a breaking update on Tuesday afternoon (30 May) Bela Shah said live on Sky Sports News: “Sources have indicated to Sky Sports News that [the takeover] is still expected to be completed.
“And once it has there is a plan in place for Radrizzani to oversee a transition period into the new ownership alongside chief executive Angus Kinnear.”
On the Sky Sports live-blog there is further detail: “Kinnear is also expected to stay on in his role as CEO at least until the end of the 2023-24 season, and top of the agenda for the new regime will be the appointments of a new head coach and sporting director.”
Surprise
Transition arrangements are largely designed to ensure there is no interruption to the smooth operation of day to day business.
But the idea that anything at Leeds United could be classed a smooth operation of late would come as news to the fans who have just witnessed the chaotic club’s fate sealed after a season which suggested it was coming from a long way off.
And it is not as if 49ers Enterprises are coming to Elland Road cold, having held 44% of shares and involvement behind the scenes for months.
With Radrizzani still not even decided whether he will part with his 56% share after seeing the value of it plummet thanks to relegation it could be an unnecessary complication for key parts of the old regime to linger into the new.
Leeds United have needed clarity on their future all season, and the overriding hope was that it would arrive in the form of a big-money buy-out of a Premier League outfit.
Having failed that it is a small saving grace that there is apparently still an expectation a substitute deal can be reached, but after the wild season that the current regime have overseen is anything to go by a clean break might be preferable.
In other Leeds United news, with a new manager one of the key unanswered questions an update has emerged on the 49ers favourite target coming to Elland Road.