Andrea Radrizzai may stay on at Leeds United and look to emulate Burnley and Sheffield United – Phil Hay
Phil Hay believes that one cannot rule out the possibility of Andrea Radrizzani staying on at Leeds United in the event of relegation.
With no price negotiated between the San Francisco 49ers and the club’s majority shareholder, he may opt to stay another year and use the parachute payments to bring the club back to the Premier League.
Burnley and Sheffield United have done the same thing and Radrizzani could look to emulate it so that he makes as much money as he can from the sale of the club.
Hay told the Athletic Football podcast, “When I speak to people, you get the sense that if they go down then Radrizzani might be minded to try and stick around as majority shareholder with the intention of doing what Burnley have done and what Sheffield United have managed to do this season which is using parachute payments and the sale of players you eventually have to sell.
“Your valuation picks up again and returns to the level it was earlier. It seems like entirely weighted now and dependent on what happens in these next games and that will influence a huge amount from ownership structure in the boardroom to things like stadium development which is a core part of the 49ers enterprises’ plan.
“They are simply not going to push ahead if they’re in the Championship. It’ll be delayed again.” [13:51]
Understandable but tough road ahead
Radrizzani will have no incentive to sell at a lower price as he knows what Leeds can be worth if they’re in the Premier League.
He’ll spend a fraction of the money he is due to generate from top flight status and can make over a hundred million from it.
From his point of view, it’s the more sensible thing to do but it’s not a decision that’s going to sit well with the fans.
While they’ve appreciated what he’s done for the club, the sacking of Marcelo Bielsa has strained the club’s relationship with the fans.
They knew that he wasn’t to be blamed for the decline and it was mainly down to the injuries and lack of investment from the board.
Jesse Marsch, who replaced him did not do well at all and the same can be said about Javi Gracia, who himself faces the sack at the club.
In other Leeds United news, an exit-bound senior player was spotted in tears after what happened recently.