Jesse Marsch sack fiasco on 49ers’ minds as Daniel Farke in danger at Leeds United
Jesse Marsch’s sacking could influence whether 49ers Enterprises choose to get rid of Daniel Farke at Leeds United.
The German is under increasing pressure after Leeds lost 3-1 at Nottingham Forest to leave them16th in the Premier League, a point above the bottom three.
Defeat at the City Ground came after Leeds were beaten 3-0 at Brighton in alarmingly-similar fashion, and major questions are now being asked about Farke’s status at Elland Road.
While Graham Smyth believes it is highly unlikely that Farke faces removal before Leeds face Aston Villa on the other side of the international break he does suggest hesitancy over Marsch’s Leeds sacking the last time the club were in the top flight is looming over Farke.
Paraag Marathe was present for Andrea Radrizzani mess
The American was the first of an unseemly carousel of managers that ultimately took Leeds United down three seasons ago, before he was eventually sacked in early February.
A combination of Michael Skubala, Javi Gracia and Sam Allardyce succeeded the now-Canada national team boss before relegation from the Premier League then saw Farke arrive that summer.
Andrea Radrizzani was in charge at the time opted not to fire Marsch during the midseason break for the Qatar World Cup, instead keeping him until just after the close of the January transfer window before making the move, with disastrous consequences.
49ers Enterprises were minority partners at the time with Paraag Marathe the vice-chair, and Smyth has suggested close proximity to that debacle will be in his head as the now-chairman assesses what to do about Farke.
Writing in the Yorkshire Evening Post he said: “There are myriad dangers in making a change. 49ers would have to be convinced that they could find and appoint someone better, someone who could get the best out of this squad. Sack Farke and get the replacement wrong and it’s all over. There is a risk in waiting too long, as well, if things carry on as they have been in the last two games.
“Andrea Radrizzani twice waited until the January window had come and gone before making managerial changes. The Italian admitted he should have sacked Jesse Marsch when the World Cup break presented itself. 49ers were in the boardroom at that point and that has to be playing on minds, even just a little.“
Daniel Farke on borrowed time at Elland Road
Farke has weathered the storm of criticism at various points during his Leeds career already and ultimately delivered what he was tasked with – a return to the Premier League.
But his record in the second tier is excellent while it is fairly awful in the top flight, and with doubts surrounding his future even as he lifted the Championship trophy in May it feels almost inevitable that he will be gone sooner or later unless he can demonstrate obvious improvements.
There is no comparable figure fighting against a Farke sacking this time, just as Victor Orta is believed to have influenced Radrizzani to give Marsch a stay of execution this time three years ago.
And the 49ers have already been involved in one sacking this season with their removal of Russell Martin at Rangers, although the Englishman’s appointment in the first place at Ibrox may call into question their overall judgement.
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