By George Overhill

11th Sep, 2023 | 8:10pm

Angus Kinnear tells Leeds United Supporters Trust what 49ers set to spend on developments

Angus Kinnear has revealed that Leeds United are “definitely” going to spend £1million on the South Stand at Elland Road as an early step in their ground renovation plans, according to Simon Rix.

The Kaiser Chiefs member and famous Whites fan shared what the CEO had told the Supporters Trust meeting last week on the Don’t Go To Bed Just Yet podcast (11 September), with all the toilets in the stadium also set to be renovated.

In addition, he relayed the information that the club are aware that any money spend on the West Stand is ultimately going to be “completely wasted” once future developments take place.

Rix told Adam Pope (15m 40s): “[Kinnear] definitely said that they’re going to spend £1m on the South Stand, which I don’t know how far that goes.

“He did that they’d look to renovate all the toilets in Elland Road. He was also saying that every penny they spend on the West Stand they know that in one to three years is completely wasted money that they won’t get back.

“I think they’ve got plans drawn up and everything, and it sounded like it’s a matter of pushing the button. The moment they do that they have eight months planning to go through before they can actually start digging or smashing things down…

“And there’s a debate whether they should start that process now, so in eight months time they can start, or whether they should wait until the end of the season and see what league they are in.”

Start

Elland Road badly needs work and the relegation to the Championship has surely set that back some way, despite the new owners taking over in the summer.

That there may need to be temporary measures to improve the situation spent on that end up being stripped away when more extensive development arrives is somewhat of a sunk cost.

That isn’t ideal for any club’s owners looking to maximise the effectiveness of the money they put in, but for the supporters might make the intervening time on match days more enjoyable.

It is a positive that the hierarchy are still apparently engaged with their promises to improve the stadium, when it is hardly unheard of for a new regime to get their feet under the table and suddenly lose enthusiasm to invest.

As with all the ambitious plans Paraag Marathe and the 49ers have spoken about over the past year or so, everything is surely going to be accelerated with the benefit of Premier League involvement.

So, after a chaotic start to the season the club chiefs will certainly be hoping that Daniel Farke can steady the ship now that the transfer window is shut and start to press ahead for an immediate return to the top flight.

In other Leeds United news, a key Whites player has been embarrassed by a manager over his status with the national team.