Phil Hay details private 49ers Enterprises talks behind the scenes at Leeds United
Phil Hay has shared behind-the-scenes 49ers Enterprises talks, speaking about the idea of controlling Leeds United for “a decade or more”.
The 49ers completed the purchase of the West Yorkshire club in July 2023 and have already overseen an incredible Championship campaign with the Whites despite missing out on automatic promotion.
While the owners have expressed the desire to remain at Elland Road for the foreseeable future, it is understood that “hard decisions” will be made if the club are unable to secure promotion through the play-offs this season.
Writing via The Athletic on Thursday (9 May), Hay wrote: “The 49ers did not categorise their first year of ownership at Leeds as promotion or bust.
“They were rational about the possibility of having to play a longer game and, in private, they speak about potentially controlling the club for a decade or more. But there is no disputing that failure to win these play-offs would bring on some hard decisions.”
Will Leeds United reach the Premier League through the play-offs?
Of course, the whole Elland Road fanbase will be behind their team, hoping to be back in the Premier League next season, but the 49ers also have a lot at stake.
The group have pushed a lot of money into the club since taking over and without promotion this season, it has been suggested that Leeds could potentially be at risk from points deductions.
While loan deals have helped the Whites’ case this season, those players are set to return to Elland Road at the end of the season, many of whom have very high wages for a Championship club.
Securing promotion would solve many problems, while Leeds will also be keen to offload some of these players who jumped ship when the club were relegated last season.
The likes of Jack Harrison, Max Wober, Marc Roca, Rasmus Kristensen, Brendan Aaronson and Diego Llorente could all be sold during the summer transfer window, which could help alleviate some monetary pressures at Elland Road.
In other Leeds news, another young star at Thorp Arch is set to be loaned out.
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