49ers wanted Graham Potter before Daniel Farke as Leeds United sack verdict shared – Phil Hay
The 49ers were “really big” on ex-Chelsea boss Graham Potter for the managerial role at Leeds before they appointed Daniel Farke, according to Phil Hay.
Speaking on The Square Ball podcast (6 May), The Athletic journalist reports that the club’s American owners wanted to hold talks but he wasn’t interested in dropping down to the Championship.
And Hay went on to add that they now feel they have “one of the best” coaches available, and admitted he doesn’t expect them to make any changes if the club don’t make the Premier League via the playoffs.
“To be fair to the 49ers I don’t think they’re the type, certainly to go off the evidence so far but also the way they run the 49ers in the NFL, they’re not the sort to act on a whim or just abandon ideas and plans overnight,” he said. “It’s not their style. They very much stick to the programme.
“Last summer the 49ers were really big on Graham Potter, but couldn’t really get Potter into position where he was ready to discuss the deal with them.
“Part of the reason for that was he had just come out of Chelsea, he’d had a bad time after doing really well at Brighton, so his stock was high and he saw himself as a Premier League coach.
“There’s no point saying ‘we should have made him an offer he couldn’t refuse’, ‘we should do X, Y and Z’, because there are some coaches you just can’t get.”
Leeds United must stick with Daniel Farke no matter what
Emotions are high at Elland Road right now because the club fell apart at the business end of the season and now have to enter the playoffs, where they’ve never been successful.
But it’s easy to forget just how good the team have been this season, racking up 90 points in 46 games – a total that would have earned the Whites automatic promotion in three of the last five seasons and is only three less than they won the title with under Marcelo Bielsa.
It’s been quite a crazy season in terms of how it ultimately played out, and needing 94 points to achieve a top-two finish is unprecedented.
Farke has won the division twice before and the squad has been built in his image. He signed a four-year deal for a reason and should be allowed more time to see the project through.
Potter was a pipe dream and there are zero guarantees that he would have done a better job. Fans must be patient and remember it’s not over yet. Farke deserves the support of the fans and the 49ers.
In other Leeds news, the club are readying an offer for a Premier League winning striker.
For more Leeds news, follow us on Facebook or join our brand new WhatsApp Channel for instant updates to be sent straight to your phone.