Leeds United exodus continues amid report on youth chief Lyndon Tomlinson in second Monday exit update
Leeds United are continuing to shed significant members of staff with the news that Lyndon Tomlinson is set to leave the club, according to Training Ground Guru.
Victor Orta, Javi Gracia, and the previous manager’s backroom staff have all departed Elland Road in the past week, and it was reported by David Ornstein in The Athletic on Monday morning (8 May) that Chris Armas has also left after months in a state of limbo.
It has now emerged later the same day that youth chief Tomlinson is also on the way out once the season ends, after just a year with the club, after coming in for Paul Midgley last summer [The Athletic, 8 August].
Training Ground Guru reported via Twitter, subsequently re-tweeted by the Leeds United youth academy: “Lyndon Tomlinson is leaving his role as Head of National Recruitment for the 12s to 16s at Leeds United to join the investment group FMCF.”
In the report on their website it is added that the former Manchester City and Manchester United staff member had been part of “one of the strongest recruitment departments in the Premier League, particularly when it comes to youth football,” but will leave at the end of the season to becomes Sports Director at FMCF.
Exodus
It was always expected to be a summer of change at the club with the potential 49ers Enterprises takeover from Andrea Radrizzani, but the potential relegation has put a huge turnover of key staff on the cards.
Sam Allardyce seems unlikely to stay whether he keeps the club up or not, while a new director of football will be required after six years thanks to Orta’s departure.
Armas apparently wasn’t doing anything so he won’t need to be replaced, but Tomlinson definitely was so for the second time in a year his role is going to need filling.
Whether it will be Andrea Radrizzani or the 49ers in charge going forward there will need to be a significant amount of recruitment done at various positions.
And based on how badly things have fallen apart this season those appointments will have pressure hanging over them because the club can’t afford to make crucial mistakes on personnel.
In two years the harmonious and united club that was flying high upon its return to the Premier League under Marcelo Bielsa is now all over the place, with many of the key figures from that era long gone, and the top flight status that came with it also hanging in the balance.
In other Leeds United news, the club have got £14million ready to offer for an international at a position of major need.