Leeds United D-Day set for new manager appointment as five names emerge on potential shortlist
Leeds United must complete the appointment of a new manager by 2 July as players will be returning to Thorp Arch for pre-season training on that date, according to the Yorkshire Evening Post.
The newspaper reported on Wednesday (7 June) that there are a number of candidates to replace Sam Allardyce in the Elland Road hot seat with Carlos Corberan “liked” by the club and Steven Gerrard, Scott Parker and Brendan Rodgers also being linked or discussed behind the scenes.
The YEP added that Andoni Iraola is considered as a “Bielsa disciple” who could lead the Whites next season. However, it is understood that a renewed move to hire the Rayo Vallecano manager could prove fruitless due to the Yorkshire club’s relegation from the Premier League.
Needs to be done ASAP
Leeds cannot afford to wait until 2 July, really.
It’s just under a month away but in the weeks between now and the return of players to Thorp Arch, other clubs will have made signings, we may have lost a couple of players and a director of football also needs to be hired.
First things first, the takeover needs to be completed.
Andrea Radrizzani and 49ers Enterprises are really dragging their heels at the moment but the fact that the Americans already part-own Leeds should hopefully mean things go smoothly as soon as all the relevant documents are signed and submitted to the EFL.
Once that happens, everything else should happen fairly rapidly because Angus Kinnear, who’ll be staying at Elland Road as CEO, should be working on a number of targets for both the director of football job and the manager job.
The names linked with Leeds so far aren’t the worst. Rodgers is clearly the best option but Iraola and Corberan could also do great jobs at Elland Road.
Parker isn’t a terrible option but please, please avoid Gerrard.
In other Leeds United news, Patrick Bamford is now surely emptying his locker at Thorp Arch.