Andrea Radrizzani and 49ers talks set to delay Leeds United manager hunt
Leeds United are facing a further delay in appointing a new manager with talks set to get underway between Andrea Radrizzani and 49ers Enterprises as reported by the Daily Mail.
The update was given with the news that Sam Allardyce would be leaving the club following talks with chief executive officer Angus Kinnear on Thursday, in which no consensus was reached.
Due to the ongoing ownership wrangle, Leeds hasn’t been able to provide clarity on the crucial managerial role with Radrizzani hoping for an answer from the 49ers by the end of the week.
The report from David Coverdale and Will Pickford for the Mail sets out the knock-on effect in regard to appointing a new boss.
“With Leeds now facing at least a season in the Championship, the proposed takeover by the San Francisco 49ers franchise is up in the air,” they said.
“It is unlikely the club will be able to make a managerial appointment until that process is resolved.
“Leeds owner Andrea Radrizzani – currently in Italy – hopes to discover whether the 49ers wish to buy him out or merely retain their current 44 per cent shareholding by the end of the week.”
Worry
Leeds fans will be very concerned at the current state of play with the club.
Radrizzani is seeking to protect his own interests first and foremost, but reports of the Italian using Elland Road security in a proposed deal for finance to fund a Sampdoria takeover will only entrench opposition to him, from the supporters.
He isn’t totally committed to Leeds, nor does he have the ability to provide the leadership and direction that is sorely required. If he does remain in control, his sole priority will be to ensure a return to the Premier League but that ambition won’t take into consideration the need to urgently address other important matters.
The 49ers aren’t going to pay the same price for Radrizzani’s shareholding as they were if the club had retained its top-flight status but they will also share the worry over this continued impasse.
The sooner a solution is found, the better but in the meantime, Leeds will struggle to attract a top coach to overhaul the squad as long as this saga continues.
In other Leeds United news, clubs in Germany are already lining up to sign one star at Elland Road after relegation